SLC6A6

SLC6A6, a member of the solute carrier family 6, is an important transmembrane transporter responsible for the transmembrane transport of taurine. It is a multi-transmembrane protein that transports taurine into cells through sodium and chloride ion-dependent pathways, which is crucial for maintaining intracellular taurine levels. The function of SLC6A6 involves cell proliferation and survival, and its signaling has been shown to affect these cellular processes. The signaling pathways involved in SLC6A6 include the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway, which inhibits the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibiting this signaling pathway, maintaining the contractile phenotype of VSMCs, thereby inhibiting neointimal formation. In addition, SLC6A6 also plays a role in macrophages, where its transcription level is upregulated during the polarization of M1 macrophages, affecting the reprogramming of macrophages from M1 to M2. The abnormal expression of SLC6A6 is associated with a variety of diseases, including retinal degeneration, cardiomyopathy, and tumor progression. Its role in the tumor microenvironment is dual, as it can promote malignant behavior of tumor cells and increase the survival and effector function of CD8+ T cells. Therefore, SLC6A6 plays an important role in regulating immune response and tumor progression, and is a potential target for research and treatment of related diseases.