Tmem144, an orphan 10-transmembrane family receptor, has been associated with various biological processes, although its exact function remains not fully elucidated. It has been implicated in cell-cell signaling processes and is potentially a key member in tight junction, focal adhesion, Notch signaling and glycerolipid metabolism pathways [4].

In renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC), M2 macrophages promote the progression of RCC by regulating the expression of genes including TMEM144, affecting the prognosis of patients. Co-culture of RCC cells with M2 macrophages up-regulated the expression of TMEM144 and enhanced the migration and invasion ability of RCC cells [1]. In atherosclerosis research, through bioinformatics and machine learning approaches, TMEM144 was screened as one of the key genes, mainly enriched in inflammation and immunity-related pathways [2]. In a study on the effects of a high-fat, sucrose and salt-rich diet over two generations in rats, Tmem144 was differentially regulated in the kidneys of female F2 offspring, suggesting its potential role in the development of chronic kidney disease in this context [3].

In summary, Tmem144 appears to be involved in multiple biological processes and disease conditions such as RCC, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease. These findings from different research models, especially those related to disease phenotypes, contribute to understanding the role of Tmem144 in various physiological and pathological states, providing a basis for further functional studies.

References:

1. Zhang, Xiaoxu, Sun, Yang, Ma, Yushuo, Wang, Wei, Wang, Lisheng. 2023. Tumor-associated M2 macrophages in the immune microenvironment influence the progression of renal clear cell carcinoma by regulating M2 macrophage-associated genes. In Frontiers in oncology, 13, 1157861. doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1157861. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37361571/

2. Su, Xiaoxue, Zhang, Meng, Yang, Guinan, Du, Liunianbo, Pei, Yuanmin. . Bioinformatics and machine learning approaches reveal key genes and underlying molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis: A review. In Medicine, 103, e38744. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000038744. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39093811/

3. Zhang, Xiaoli, Hasan, Ahmed A, Wu, Hongwei, Li, Jian, Hocher, Berthold. . High-fat, sucrose and salt-rich diet during rat spermatogenesis lead to the development of chronic kidney disease in the female offspring of the F2 generation. In FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 36, e22259. doi:10.1096/fj.202101789RR. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35294083/

4. Do, Duy N, Schenkel, Flavio S, Miglior, Filippo, Zhao, Xin, Ibeagha-Awemu, Eveline M. 2018. Genome wide association study identifies novel potential candidate genes for bovine milk cholesterol content. In Scientific reports, 8, 13239. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31427-0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30185830/