HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR)

HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is a 2,148-nucleotide long human long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from the HOXC locus on chromosome 12[3]. It is best known for its role in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression via trans-acting epigenetic silencing: HOTAIR binds Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) through its 5'-domain and LSD1/CoREST/REST through its 3'-domain, enabling it to guide these complexes to the HOXD locus (chromosome 2) and repress gene transcription[1][3]. HOTAIR is implicated in physiological processes such as epidermal and bone development, as well as in the pathogenesis of many cancers, where its high expression correlates with metastasis, poor prognosis, and increased invasiveness. It can also act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in cytoplasm, binding miRNAs such as miR-214 to modulate differentiation[2]. As a lncRNA, HOTAIR does not encode a protein and is distinguished by its stable, modular secondary structure essential for interactions with chromatin-modifying enzymes and regulatory proteins[1][4]. No drugs currently target HOTAIR directly in clinical practice, but it is viewed as a promising therapeutic target and biomarker in oncology and bone metabolism due to its critical role in epigenetic gene regulation[5].

Other names

HOXC-AS4HOXC11-AS1NCRNA00072HOXC cluster antisense RNA 4 (non-protein coding)non-protein coding RNA 72HOXAShox transcript antisense intergenic RNA

Inhibition of HOTAIR function (via antisense oligonucleotides or RNA interference) aims to block epigenetic gene silencing and tumor progression; experimental approaches seek to disrupt HOTAIR–PRC2 or HOTAIR–LSD1 interactions[1][4][5]