TGF-beta induced lncRNA activating myofibroblasts (TILAM)

**TGF-beta induced lncRNA activating myofibroblasts (TILAM)** is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that is induced by TGF-beta signaling and is selectively enriched in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) myofibroblasts during liver fibrosis[1][4][5]. TILAM is located near the COL1A1 gene on chromosome 17 and is also known as LINC01969[2][4][6]. Induction of TILAM is tightly associated with the activation of HSCs and subsequent fibrotic progression, as it regulates the expression of key extracellular matrix genes, including COL1A1, via interaction with promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body scaffold protein (PML)[1]. Depletion of TILAM in experimental models protects against fibrosis by reducing collagen production and extracellular matrix gene transcription, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for anti-fibrotic intervention[1]. TILAM has minimal expression in healthy liver, is substantially upregulated in chronic fibrotic injury, and may be a viable biomarker for disease progression in liver fibrosis[1].

Other names

LINC01969

Targeting TILAM with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or gene editing attenuates fibrosis by reducing pro-fibrogenic gene expression[1].