An Overview on Long non coding RNA HOTAIR

Abstract

HOX Transcript Antisense Intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located on chromosome 12q13.13, transcribed from the HOXC locus. Despite not encoding proteins, HOTAIR plays a critical regulatory role in epigenetic gene silencing. It functions as a molecular scaffold that recruits chromatin-modifying complexes, particularly Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) and LSD1/CoREST/REST, to target genomic regions such as the HOXD cluster, leading to H3K27 trimethylation and H3K4 demethylation, respectively. Through these epigenetic modifications, HOTAIR influences cellular processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and invasion. Dysregulation of HOTAIR expression has been strongly associated with tumor progression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), drug resistance, and poor prognosis in several cancers including breast, colorectal, liver, gastric, and lung cancers. Due to its tissue-specific expression, stability in blood and exosomes, and strong correlation with tumor aggressiveness, HOTAIR is considered a promising biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and a potential therapeutic target in cancer.