biostudies-literatureUnknown21(11)Yuan YLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cancer progression through their interaction with microRNAs and modulation of gene expression. However, their role in mitochondrial metabolism, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains poorly defined. In this study, we found that LINC02802 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LINC02802 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-1976, thereby relieving the suppression of solute carrier family 25 member 51(SLC25A51). Elevated SLC25A51 enhances mitochondrial NAD⁺ import, leading to an increased NAD⁺/NADH ratio and promoting oxidative TCA cycle flux. Functionally, this shift supports tumor cell proliferation and migratiInternational journal of biological sciences4908-4926https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12374817biostudies-literatureN4-acetylcytidine modification of LINC02802 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by modulating mitochondrial NAD+/NADH ratio.PMC12374817Duan LZhang DTang LJiang XWang JYuan YDuan YfalseN4-acetylcytidine modification of LINC02802 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by modulating mitochondrial NAD+/NADH ratio.Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators of cancer progression through their interaction with microRNAs and modulation of gene expression. However, their role in mitochondrial metabolism, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains poorly defined. In this study, we found that LINC02802 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LINC02802 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-1976, thereby relieving the suppression of solute carrier family 25 member 51(SLC25A51). Elevated SLC25A51 enhances mitochondrial NAD⁺ import, leading to an increased NAD⁺/NADH ratio and promoting oxidative TCA cycle flux. Functionally, this shift supports tumor cell proliferation and migrati2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-07-15T09:48:19.477Z2026-07-02T03:11:52.776ZS-EPMC123748174086018610.7150/ijbs.116639