Podn, also known as podocan, is a small leucine-rich repeat protein. It is involved in multiple biological processes. It has been linked to the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation through signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, and Akt/mTOR [3]. It is expressed in various tissues including those related to HIV-associated nephropathy, the cardiovascular system, and smooth muscle, and is associated with several cancers [3].

In osteosarcoma, PODN has been identified as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Bioinformatics analysis showed its good diagnostic value with an AUC value of 0.855, and Cox regression and survival analysis indicated its significance in prognosis [1]. Overexpression of PODN in osteosarcoma cells prevented their proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibited tumorigenesis in xenograft mice by inactivating the TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway [2].

In human bladder smooth muscle cells, miR-3180-5p overexpression, which is induced by hydrodynamic pressure, reduces PODN expression and promotes cell proliferation via the cdk2 signaling pathway [4].

In chickens, PODN was found to be highly correlated with egg-laying rate and egg weight in F1 hens, suggesting its potential role in regulating reproductive traits [5].

In gastric cancer, PODN, along with other genes, was part of a six-gene signature associated with overall survival [6].

In conclusion, PODN plays important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and is associated with various diseases including osteosarcoma, bladder-related conditions, and gastric cancer. Its study in different models has provided insights into its functions in disease-related biological processes, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in these disease areas.