Objective      To evaluate the expression of long non-coding RNA

LINC00261

in Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

and to investigate its possible mechanism.  Methods     qRT-PCR was used to analyze the expression levels of LINC00261 in normal esophageal squamous epithelium

Barrett’s esophagus and  esophageal adenocarcinoma of Chinese population. The possible role of LINC00261 in the development of Barrett’s esophagus was investigated in human embryonic stem cells.  Results     The expression level of LINC00261 were significantly higher in the Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma than the normal esophageal squamous epithelium tissues (P0.01). Acid and bile exposure enhanced the expression of LINC00261 and inhibited the protein level of FOXA2 in human embryonic stem cells. While lentivirus-mediated up-regulation of LINC00261 also induced the inhibition of FOXA2 expression. What’s more

FOXA2 up-regulation blocked the expression of CDX2 and differentiation phenotype (expression of MUC2

a biomarker for columnar differentiation) in human embryonic stem cells induced by acid and bile exposure.  Conclusion     LINC00261 plays a key role in the development of Barrett’s esophagus

  and FOXA2 is involved in the related regulation by inhibiting FOXA2.