PAPPA antisense RNA 1 (PAPPA-AS1)

PAPPA antisense RNA 1 (PAPPA-AS1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), classified as a natural antisense transcript, that does not code for a protein but exerts gene regulatory functions, primarily at the transcriptional level[1][3]. PAPPA-AS1 has been shown to be significantly upregulated in hypertrophic scar (HTS) tissues and in hypertrophic scar fibroblast (HTsFb) cells, where it plays a key role in promoting fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. Its main mechanistic action is through upregulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling and the TGF-β1 pathway, mediated via direct interaction with the RNA-binding protein TAF15[2]. Knockdown of PAPPA-AS1 in vitro and in vivo leads to suppressed expression of TLR4, MyD88, TGF-β1, and fibrosis biomarkers (collagen I, collagen III, α-SMA), and alleviates pathological scarring phenotypes[1][2]. PAPPA-AS1 is localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of affected cells, offering a regulatory hub for fibrosis-related gene networks. There are currently no approved drugs that target PAPPA-AS1 directly, and it is not considered a conventional therapeutic target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter, but its role in fibrosis may make it a candidate for RNA-targeted therapies in the future[1][2][3].

Other names

DIPASPAPPA-ASDIPLA1 antisense RNA 1DIPLA1-antisense expressednon-protein coding RNA 156NCRNA00156PAPPAASPAPPAS