FAM171A2

The protein encoded by the FAM171A2 gene, also known as family with sequence similarity 171, member A2, plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases. It is involved in the regulation of progranulin expression, which is associated with the development of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. FAM171A2 functions within the vascular endothelium and microglia, where it interacts with progranulin and influences its levels. Its mechanism of action is linked to signaling pathways, including those involving the L1 cell adhesion molecule, which is important for neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival.
Recent research has identified FAM171A2 as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Studies have shown that targeting FAM171A2 may modify the risk of these diseases by regulating brain progranulin levels. The development of small molecule drugs, antibodies, and gene therapy approaches aimed at FAM171A2 is currently underway, offering hope for new treatments to slow the progression of these conditions.