lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1: A promising therapeutic target for aging and age-related diseases

Aging is a natural biological process characterized by progressive cellular and functional decline, significantly increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of cellular processes implicated in aging and age-related diseases. Among these, lncRNA erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 like 4 A antisense RNA 1 (EPB41L4A-AS1) has emerged as a key player with significant dysregulation across diverse age-related diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This review synthesizes current evidence showing that EPB41L4A-AS1 functions primarily as a tumor suppressor in many cancers, regulates neuronal autophagy and energy metabolism in AD, and modulates inflammatory and metabolic pathways in T2DM. Mechanistically, EPB41L4A-AS1 exerts its effects-via miRNA sponging, regulating key signaling pathways (NF-κB, Rho/ROCK), influencing histone modifications, and modulating cellular metabolism (glycolysis, glutaminolysis, NAD+/ATP synthesis). The compelling evidence positions EPB41L4A-AS1 as a promising, multi-faceted therapeutic target for mitigating the burden of age-related diseases.