C1qtnf9, also known as CTRP9 (C1q-tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9), is a secreted protein with significant functions in the cardiovascular system. It is involved in pathways such as the ERK5-GATA4 pathway, which is related to cardiac hypertrophy [1]. Additionally, it may be associated with pyroptosis and inflammasome-related processes [2].

In pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy models, C1qtnf9-deleted mice, especially homozygous knock-out mice, were protected from the development of cardiac hypertrophy, left ventricular dilatation, and dysfunction, while its overexpression promoted hypertrophic cardiac remodeling and dysfunction [1]. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, C1qtnf9 was identified as one of the genes in a prognostic signature related to pyroptosis and inflammasome-related genes, with the high-risk group associated with poor prognosis [2].

In conclusion, C1qtnf9 plays a crucial role in the heart, where it can facilitate maladaptive cardiac remodeling and left ventricular dysfunction during hypertrophic heart disease. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, it is part of a gene signature for prognosis. The study of C1qtnf9 using gene-knockout mouse models has provided valuable insights into its functions in these disease-related biological processes [1,2].

References:

1. Appari, Mahesh, Breitbart, Astrid, Brandes, Florian, Bauersachs, Johann, Heineke, Joerg. 2016. C1q-TNF-Related Protein-9 Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy and Failure. In Circulation research, 120, 66-77. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309398. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27821723/

2. Zuo, Jieliang, Yi, Chenhe, Chen, Zhenmei, Yang, Tingsong, Lin, Jing. 2022. A novel refined pyroptosis and inflammasome-related genes signature for predicting prognosis and immune microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In Scientific reports, 12, 18384. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22864-z. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36319832/