Laptm4a, also known as lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane 4A, is a protein-coding gene. It is involved in multiple cellular functions such as lysosomal membrane protein regulation, protein-protein interaction, and glycolipid regulation. It may participate in pathways related to endocytosis, intracellular sorting, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, which are crucial for maintaining normal cellular function and homeostasis [2,3,5,6,7].

In glioma, Laptm4a was found to be up-regulated and associated with poor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed its role in the immune system and cancer progression. In vitro experiments indicated it may influence metastasis through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Also, patients with high Laptm4a expression were sensitive to doxorubicin [1].

In HeLa cells, disruption of Laptm4a gene reduced globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) biosynthesis, with loss of Laptm4a decreasing endogenous Gb3 synthase activity in a post-transcriptional mechanism [3].

In HK-2 cells, Laptm4a expression increased in high-glucose-induced cells, and the hsa_circ_0042260/miR-4782-3p/Lapmt4a axis was shown to play a role in regulating gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) progression [4].

In human kidney, Laptm4a was demonstrated to interact with hOCT2, regulating its function by influencing its trafficking to/from the cell membrane [2].

In summary, Laptm4a plays essential roles in various biological processes, especially in the regulation of lysosomal function, glycolipid biosynthesis, and protein-protein interactions. Its dysregulation is associated with diseases like glioma and GDM. Studies on Laptm4a contribute to understanding the underlying mechanisms of these diseases, potentially providing new targets for diagnosis and treatment [1,3,4].