Details for: MHENCR

Gene ID: 100505771

Gene Type:  ncRNA (Non-coding RNA)  - A functional RNA molecule that is transcribed from DNA but not translated into a protein. Includes classes like miRNA and lncRNA.

Symbol: MHENCR

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000232442

Description: melanoma highly expressed competing endogenous lncRNA for miR-425 and miR-489

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • activated type II NK T cell CL0000931
    CSI 5.86
    rCSI 6.59%
    PRS 94.67
  • effector memory CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell CL0000905
    CSI 5.49
    rCSI 7.47%
    PRS 96.8
  • mature B cell CL0000785
    CSI 5.15
    rCSI 4.47%
    PRS 92.55
  • CD4-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell CL0000897
    CSI 5.02
    rCSI 3.61%
    PRS 95.01
  • CD4-positive helper T cell CL0000492
    CSI 4.76
    rCSI 3.6%
    PRS 94.57
  • CD4-positive, alpha-beta thymocyte CL0000810
    CSI 4.46
    rCSI 3.57%
    PRS 93.97
  • central memory CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell CL0000904
    CSI 4.02
    rCSI 2.37%
    PRS 96.58
  • unswitched memory B cell CL0000970
    CSI 3.93
    rCSI 3.31%
    PRS 94.95
  • central memory CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell CL0000907
    CSI 3.75
    rCSI 2.53%
    PRS 95.14
  • double negative thymocyte CL0002489
    CSI 3.73
    rCSI 2.59%
    PRS 94.3
  • naive T cell CL0000898
    CSI 3.64
    rCSI 2.54%
    PRS 95.58
  • class switched memory B cell CL0000972
    CSI 3.64
    rCSI 2.72%
    PRS 94.08
  • immature B cell CL0000816
    CSI 3.5
    rCSI 2.6%
    PRS 93.11
  • CD8-positive, alpha-beta thymocyte CL0000811
    CSI 3.5
    rCSI 5.45%
    PRS 95.61
  • ON-bipolar cell CL0000749
    CSI 3.05
    rCSI 4.53%
    PRS 84.52
  • retina horizontal cell CL0000745
    CSI 2.97
    rCSI 4.53%
    PRS 82.02
  • group 3 innate lymphoid cell CL0001071
    CSI 2.71
    rCSI 2.04%
    PRS 89.72
  • CD14-low, CD16-positive monocyte CL0002396
    CSI 2.53
    rCSI 1.95%
    PRS 88.26
  • double-positive, alpha-beta thymocyte CL0000809
    CSI 2.41
    rCSI 2.45%
    PRS 92.34
  • rod bipolar cell CL0000751
    CSI 2.32
    rCSI 4.18%
    PRS 79.05
  • ciliated epithelial cell CL0000067
    CSI 2.01
    rCSI 1.77%
    PRS 75.11
  • retinal bipolar neuron CL0000748
    CSI 1.95
    rCSI 3.66%
    PRS 74.69
  • effector memory CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell, terminally differentiated CL0001062
    CSI 1.74
    rCSI 8.74%
    PRS 94.26
  • regulatory T cell CL0000815
    CSI 1.5
    rCSI 1.74%
    PRS 82.94
  • effector CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell CL0001044
    CSI 1.48
    rCSI 4.24%
    PRS 96.99
  • retinal cone cell CL0000573
    CSI 1.29
    rCSI 2.08%
    PRS 76.03
  • CD4-positive, alpha-beta cytotoxic T cell CL0000934
    CSI 1.2
    rCSI 1.65%
    PRS 96.08
  • amacrine cell CL0000561
    CSI 0.92
    rCSI 2.66%
    PRS 75.22

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

Comma-separated if multiple.
Comma-separated if multiple.
Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

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Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771), or *melanoma highly expressed competing endogenous lncRNA for miR-425 and miR-489*, is a long non-coding RNA located on chromosome 20q13.33. As its name implies, it functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), specifically by sequestering miR-425 and miR-489, thereby preventing them from repressing their target messenger RNAs. **Overall**, expression data reveals that [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is a significant transcript within the hematopoietic system, showing prominent expression across a wide range of lymphocyte populations. Its high significance in both developing and mature T and B cells, including activated and memory subsets, suggests a fundamental role in lymphocyte biology, potentially regulating differentiation, activation, and memory formation through its microRNA sponging activity. ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) indicates a specialized role within the immune system, particularly in adaptive lymphocytes. - **T-Cell Lineage:** [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) demonstrates high significance across the T-cell development and differentiation spectrum. It is highly ranked in [activated type II NK T cell](/details-cell/CL0000931) (CSI: 5.86), multiple CD4+ T-cell subsets including [effector memory CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell](/details-cell/CL0000905) (CSI: 5.49), [CD4-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell](/details-cell/CL0000897) (CSI: 5.02), [CD4-positive helper T cell](/details-cell/CL0000492) (CSI: 4.76), and [central memory CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell](/details-cell/CL0000904) (CSI: 4.02). Its importance is also noted in earlier developmental stages such as [CD4-positive, alpha-beta thymocyte](/details-cell/CL0000810) (CSI: 4.46) and [double negative thymocyte](/details-cell/CL0002489) (CSI: 3.73), as well as in [central memory CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell](/details-cell/CL0000907) (CSI: 3.75). - **B-Cell Lineage:** The gene is also a key transcript in B-cells. It shows high significance in [mature B cell](/details-cell/CL0000785) (CSI: 5.15), and is also prominent in memory B-cell subsets like [unswitched memory B cell](/details-cell/CL0000970) (CSI: 3.93) and [class switched memory B cell](/details-cell/CL0000972) (CSI: 3.64), and in [immature B cell](/details-cell/CL0000816) (CSI: 3.50). **Overall**, this broad and high-level expression across diverse lymphocyte subsets suggests that [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is not merely a marker of a specific lineage but may be involved in a conserved regulatory network essential for the function of adaptive immune cells. The lower but still notable significance in [ON-bipolar cell](/details-cell/CL0000749) (CSI: 3.05) hints at potential roles outside the immune system, warranting further investigation. ## Pathways and Molecular Function While specific pathway annotations are not provided, the molecular function of [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is defined by its role as a ceRNA. It acts as a molecular "sponge" for at least two microRNAs, miR-425 and miR-489. By binding and sequestering these miRNAs, [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) effectively de-represses the genes that are normally targeted by them. This mechanism suggests that in cells where [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is highly expressed, such as the T and B lymphocytes detailed above, the protein products of genes targeted by miR-425 and miR-489 will be more abundant. These target genes are likely critical for processes such as T-cell activation, B-cell maturation, or the establishment of immunological memory. The functional consequence of [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) expression is therefore the fine-tuning of gene expression networks central to adaptive immunity. ## Research Directions The established ceRNA function of [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) and its specific expression pattern in lymphocytes, coupled with its name linking it to melanoma, provide a strong basis for further investigation. **Proposed Hypotheses:** 1. **Role in Lymphocyte Function:** [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is essential for the proper activation and differentiation of CD4+ T cells. Its depletion will impair T-cell proliferation and cytokine production by allowing miR-425 and/or miR-489 to suppress key signaling or transcription factors required for these processes. 2. **Role in Immuno-oncology:** In the context of melanoma, high expression of [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) within tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may modulate their anti-tumor activity. It could either enhance effector functions by upregulating pro-inflammatory pathways or, conversely, contribute to T-cell exhaustion by stabilizing exhaustion-related transcripts. **Experimental Approach:** To test the first hypothesis regarding its role in T-cell activation, a loss-of-function study could be performed. Primary human CD4+ T cells would be isolated and nucleofected with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) or a non-targeting control. Following in vitro stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, key functional outputs would be assessed. The impact on cell proliferation would be measured via CFSE dilution assays using flow cytometry. Supernatants would be collected to quantify effector cytokine secretion (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-2) by ELISA. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing of ASO-treated cells could identify the downstream transcriptional targets regulated by the [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771)-miR-425/489 axis. **Therapeutic Potential:** As a non-coding RNA, [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is a druggable target using nucleic acid-based therapeutics like ASOs or siRNAs. Given its name, its primary therapeutic relevance may lie in oncology, particularly melanoma. If [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) is proven to be an oncogene that promotes tumor survival or growth, **inhibition** would be the therapeutic goal. An ASO designed to degrade [MHENCR](/details-gene/100505771) could restore the tumor-suppressive functions of miR-425 and miR-489. Conversely, if its role in lymphocytes is to promote robust anti-tumor immunity, agonistic strategies or its use as a biomarker for immunotherapy response could be explored. The high specificity for immune cells could be advantageous, potentially limiting off-target effects in non-hematopoietic tissues.