Xinyan Qiu, Yulin Huang, Lin Jin, Canying Yang and Jiwei Wang* Pages 639 - 647 ( 9 )
Background: Human disease onset and progression are strongly associated with aberrant long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression, highlighting the functional regulatory role of lncRNA. Actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1), a member of lncRNAs, is located on the antisense strand of Actin filament-associated protein 1 (AFAP1).
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of AFAP1-AS1's functions in gynecology and urogenital systems using the “PubMed” database.
Results: Our analysis reveals that AFAP1-AS1 is overexpressed and engages in the initiation and process of gynecological and urogenital diseases. The regulatory mechanisms employed by AFAP1-AS1 involve four major strategies: gene-level effects, competition for microRNA (miRNA) repression, protein binding, participation in signaling networks that influence cellular processes such as proliferative phenotype, migration, invasiveness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cycle regulation, drug resistance, and more. Furthermore, AFAP1-AS1 is implicated in guiding clinicopathological characteristics.
Conclusion: AFAP1-AS1 holds promise as a potent diagnostics and treatment option for gynecological and genitourinary systems in the future.
LncRNA, AFAP1-AS1, regulatory mechanisms, biomarker, gynecology, urogenital system.