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Roles of AFAP1-AS1 in Gynecology and Urogenital System
Xinyan Qiu1, Yulin Huang1, Lin Jin1
1Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China.
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.
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