Zinc finger antisense RNA 1 (ZFAS1) (ZFAS1)

Zinc finger antisense RNA 1 (ZFAS1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located on chromosome 20q13.13, transcribed from the antisense strand of the ZNFX1 gene promoter (NCBI Gene ID: 100507436). Originally identified as a regulator of mammary gland development, ZFAS1 has emerged as a significant oncogene across a wide array of human cancers, including breast, gastric, colorectal, and lung carcinomas (PubMed: 29333241). It functions predominantly as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sponging various microRNAs to upregulate oncogenic target genes that drive cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) (PubMed: 30101314). In addition to its role in oncology, ZFAS1 is implicated in cardiovascular pathologies such as myocardial infarction and heart failure, where it influences cardiomyocyte apoptosis and fibrosis (PubMed: 28813311). While no clinical drugs currently target ZFAS1, it is a subject of intense research as a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target using antisense oligonucleotides or siRNA-based approaches (PubMed: 31435334).

Other names

ZNFX1 antisense RNA 1ZNFX1-AS1Zinc finger NFX1-type containing 1 antisense RNA 1

ZFAS1 acts primarily as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging microRNAs (e.g., miR-150, miR-484, miR-200b), thereby preventing them from silencing their target mRNAs (PubMed: 29333241). It also interacts with chromatin-modifying proteins like EZH2 to epigenetically silence tumor suppressors and modulates key signaling pathways such as Wnt/beta-catenin, PI3K/Akt, and Notch (PubMed: 30101314, PubMed: 31435334).