Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as new modulators in the 
fate decision of pluripotent stem cells, the functions of specific lncRNAs 
remain unclear. Here, we found that telomeric RNA (TERRA or TelRNA), one type of 
lncRNAs, is highly expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) but declines 
significantly upon differentiation. TERRA is induced by the Wnt/β-catenin 
signaling pathway and can reproduce its self-renewal-promoting effect when 
overexpressed. Further studies revealed that T cell factor 3 ( TCF3) is a 
potential downstream target of TERRA and mediates the effect of TERRA in mESC 
maintenance. TERRA inhibits TCF3 transcription, while enforced TCF3 expression 
abrogates the undifferentiated state of mESCs supported by TERRA. Accordingly, 
the transcripts of the pluripotency genes Esrrb, Tfcp2l1, and Klf2, repressed by 
TCF3 in mESCs, are increased in TERRA-overexpressing cells. Our study therefore 
highlights the important role of TERRA in mESC maintenance and also uncovers a 
mechanism by which TERRA promotes self-renewal. These data will expand our 
understanding of the pluripotent regulatory network of ESCs.