CDKN2B antisense RNA 1 (ANRIL) (CDKN2B-AS1)

CDKN2B antisense RNA 1 (CDKN2B-AS1), also known as ANRIL, is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from the CDKN2A/B locus on chromosome 9p21.3 [2, 5]. It functions as a key epigenetic regulator by recruiting Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC1 and PRC2) to mediate the transcriptional silencing of neighboring tumor suppressor genes, such as p15INK4B, p16INK4A, and p14ARF [4, 8]. This regulation influences critical cellular processes including cell cycle progression, senescence, and apoptosis [2, 11]. Beyond its role in the cell cycle, CDKN2B-AS1 is involved in modulating inflammatory responses through the NF-κB signaling pathway and interacting with various microRNAs as a molecular sponge [4, 12]. Genetic polymorphisms and dysregulated expression of CDKN2B-AS1 are strongly linked to a broad spectrum of diseases, including coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and multiple types of cancer [1, 14]. In oncology, it often acts as an oncogene, promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion [11, 13]. Due to its central role in disease pathogenesis, it is considered a promising therapeutic target and a potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarker [1, 11]. Current therapeutic strategies focus on using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or siRNA to knockdown its expression in disease states [9, 15].

Other names

ANRILCDKN2B antisense RNA 1p15ASNCRNA00089PCAT12CDKN2B-AS

CDKN2B-AS1 functions primarily as an epigenetic scaffold that recruits Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC1 and PRC2) to the CDKN2A/B locus, leading to the transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressors like p15INK4B, p16INK4A, and p14ARF [2, 4, 8]. It also acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) or molecular sponge for various microRNAs, thereby modulating the expression of downstream target genes involved in cell growth and inflammation [3, 7, 12].