DDIT4 antisense RNA 1 (DDIT4-AS1)

DDIT4 antisense RNA 1 (DDIT4-AS1) is a long non-coding RNA transcribed antisense to the DDIT4 gene and primarily acts by stabilizing DDIT4 mRNA through RNA:RNA duplex formation[2]. It is highly expressed in diseases such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where it promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance by activating autophagy through inhibition of the mTOR pathway, often via recruitment of RNA-binding proteins like AUF1[3]. In neuroinflammatory conditions (e.g., E. coli-induced meningitis), DDIT4-AS1 enhances DDIT4 mRNA stability and expression, thereby promoting pro-inflammatory NF-κB signaling and cytokine production[1][2]. DDIT4-AS1 is increasingly recognized as both a potential biomarker and a nucleic acid-based therapeutic target in certain cancers and neuroinflammatory diseases[3][2]. DDIT4-AS1 is an antisense lncRNA located at 10q22.1, 847 nt in length, and overlaps with DDIT4[2]. It is also referred to as RP11-442H21.2 in some transcript databases[2][4]. Targeting DDIT4-AS1 (e.g., via siRNA-delivering nanoparticles) can sensitize TNBC to paclitaxel and reduce tumor progression and autophagy[3]. No small-molecule drugs targeting DDIT4-AS1 are in clinical use; interventions focus on RNAi-based strategies or its use as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker[3].

Other names

RP11-442H21.2DDIT4-AS1DNA damage inducible transcript 4 antisense RNA1

Modulators (such as siRNA) targeting DDIT4-AS1 suppress its function, reduce DDIT4 mRNA stability, and thus influence autophagy and sensitivity to chemotherapeutics[3]