A novel antisense lncRNA of TAB2 that prevents oxidative stress to enhance the follicular growth in mammals

LncRNAs are highly implicated in oxidative stress during the growth of mammalian follicles. TAK1 binding protein 2 gene has been suggested to involve in the normal apoptosis and proliferation of granulosa cells, the main supporting cells in ovarian follicles. In this study, we found that TAB2 increased the expressions of SOD1, P50, and P65 to suppress the OS, thereby inhibiting the apoptosis and promoting the proliferation in GCs. Notably, DNMTs appeared to mediate the expression of TAB2 without the changes of DNA methylation at TAB2 promoter. We identified a novel antisense lncRNA of TAB2, discovered that DNA methylation regulated the transcription of TAB2-AS in GCs, and found TAB2-AS medicated the follicular growth of ovaries in vivo. Moreover, TAB2-AS inhibited the OS and apoptosis of GCs, while promoted the proliferation of GCs to expedite the follicular growth, which was in line with that of TAB2. Collectively, these findings revealed a novel antisense lncRNA mechanism mediated by DNA methylation, and TAB2-AS might be a new target to control OS during follicular growth in mammals.