Mesenchymal lncRNA Activation
Gene co-expression module in Smooth muscle cells
| Category | Activation |
|---|---|
| Genes | 11 |
| Annotation certainty | 3 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 8 of 11 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
Hubs are the mesenchymal/TGF-beta-inducible lncRNAs CYTOR (LINC00152) and MIR4435-2HG, together with MSC-AS1 (antisense to the mesenchymal bHLH factor MSC), LHFPL6 (LHFP, a mesenchymal/fibroblast membrane protein) and the co-repressor AES/TLE5 (Wnt/Notch modulation). The remainder are cytoskeletal-membrane scaffolds: SEPT11 and SEPT8 (septin filaments organizing actomyosin and membrane compartments in smooth muscle), CAVIN2/SDPR (caveolae, highly expressed in SMC), ST5/DENND2B (Rab13-GEF controlling RhoA and cell-edge motility) and RAPGEF2 (Rap1 GEF, adhesion/junction signalling). Uniform expression across subsets with no lineage-restricted marker argues against contamination; the module instead reads as a low-level, broadly shared mesenchymal activation/cytoskeletal-remodelling program in which lncRNA drivers co-vary with septin/caveolar cytoskeletal machinery. Strong coherence and core membership for the lncRNA hubs support a single coordinated program rather than a mixture; within its neighborhood it is best interpreted as the activated/mesenchymal-state axis rather than a contractile or ECM axis.
Genes
AES, C20orf27, CAVIN2, CYTOR, LHFPL6, MIR4435-2HG, MSC-AS1, RAPGEF2, SEPT11, SEPT8, ST5
Most correlated modules
- Mechanostress Early Response · correlation 0.79
- Ambient High-Expressors · correlation 0.78
- Baseline Maintenance Transcripts · correlation 0.75
- ATP Synthase Complex · correlation 0.74
- HOX Positional Identity · correlation 0.64
- NO-cGMP Signaling · correlation 0.63
- Heat Shock Response · correlation 0.56
Module annotations were drafted by a large language model from the module's genes, then reviewed and approved by a domain expert. See sources & licences.