HOXB cluster antisense RNA 3 (HOXB-AS3)

HOXB cluster antisense RNA 3 (HOXB-AS3) is a long noncoding RNA transcribed from chromosome 17q21.32, overlapping HOXB5 and HOXB6 genes. It displays dual functionality: as an antisense lncRNA involved in gene regulation and as a coding transcript for a unique ~53-amino acid micro-peptide found in human cells. Dysregulation of HOXB-AS3 is implicated in a broad range of cancers, where elevated expression correlates with increased tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, stemness, and resistance to apoptosis. Mechanistically, HOXB-AS3 modulates growth and progression by regulating ribosomal RNA transcription (thus protein synthesis), guiding protein partners (e.g., EBP1) to the rDNA locus, and activating oncogenic signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin. Its expression serves as a diagnostic and prognostic marker, and it is regarded as a potential therapeutic target in both solid and hematological malignancies, although no approved drugs directly target HOXB-AS3 at present.

Other names

HOXB-AS3HOXB cluster antisense RNA 3 (non-protein coding)HOXB-AS3 peptide

RNA interference (antisense oligonucleotide-induced knockdown); Modulation of downstream signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin; Protein translation blockade (targeting the micro-peptide)