HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1)

HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located within the HOXA gene cluster between HOXA1 and HOXA2. It acts as a regulatory RNA mainly expressed in myeloid cells and functions as a key modulator of myeloid cell differentiation and immune responses by controlling the expression of adjacent genes such as HOXA1[1][3]. HOTAIRM1 has epigenetic regulatory roles, functioning as a scaffold for chromatin modifiers (like Polycomb Repressive Complex 2) and altering histone and DNA methylation status to influence gene transcription[3]. In cancer, HOTAIRM1 levels correlate with prognosis and disease progression: its downregulation has been observed in several malignancies—including lung adenocarcinoma—where it is associated with increased myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) activity and immunosuppression; conversely, overexpression enhances HOXA1 levels, reduces MDSC immunosuppressive potential, and promotes anti-tumor immune responses[1][3]. HOTAIRM1 is implicated as a potential therapeutic target in cancer, particularly for modulating the tumor microenvironment and immune evasion. No clinically approved drugs are known to target HOTAIRM1 directly.

Other names

HOXA-AS1NCRNA00179HOXA1-AS1HOXA cluster antisense RNA 1 (non-protein coding)non-protein coding RNA 179HOX antisense intergenic RNA myeloid 1HOTAIRM1

Epigenetic modulation (e.g., recruiting chromatin modifiers such as Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 and DNA methyltransferases); RNA–protein interactions (scaffold for regulatory complexes); Competing endogenous RNA mechanism (miRNA sponge, e.g., miR-125b); Regulation of HOXA1 expression