Tm4sf4-flox Mouse

Tm4sf4, a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, has physiological functions in regulating tissue differentiation, signal transduction pathways, cellular activation, proliferation, motility, adhesion, and angiogenesis [4]. It is involved in multiple pathways, such as the AKT pathway [1], and has been associated with the regulation of cell junction and cohesion processes [1]. Genetic models are valuable for studying Tm4sf4's role in various biological processes and diseases.

In papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), Tm4sf4 is significantly upregulated and serves as a diagnostic biomarker. Downregulation of Tm4sf4 in vitro suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of PTC cell lines while inducing apoptosis, and the AKT activator could reverse these effects, suggesting Tm4sf4 promotes PTC progression via the AKT pathway [1]. In lung and breast cancers, Tm4sf4 was identified as a potential therapeutic target through outlier analysis, and its knockdown suppressed the growth of lung cancer cell lines [2]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, Tm4sf4 was highly expressed, and the lncRNA ST8SIA6-AS1 regulated its expression through the miR-651-5p/Tm4sf4 axis, affecting cancer cell proliferation and migration [3]. In radiation-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells, Tm4sf4 was highly expressed, activating cell growth, migration, and invasion via IGF1-induced IGF1R activation [5]. In colorectal cancer, Tm4sf4 was the downstream target of TYMS, and its overexpression increased the migration and invasion of CRC cells by regulating EMT and CD133 expression [6]. Adenovirus-mediated delivery of siRNA targeting Tm4sf4 attenuated liver cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo [7].

In conclusion, Tm4sf4 plays crucial roles in the progression of multiple cancers, including papillary thyroid cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Studies using gene knockdown or knockout-like models (such as siRNA-mediated knockdown) have revealed its oncogenic functions, making it a potential target for cancer diagnosis and treatment.