TSPAN4

Tetraspanin-4 (TSPAN4), a member of the tetraspanin superfamily, is also referred to as TSPAN-4 or CD151-like protein 3. It localizes to cell membranes, forming tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs) by interacting with integrins (e.g., α6β1) and transmembrane proteins. This scaffolding role modulates cell adhesion, migration, and signal transduction, coordinating protein complex activity.
TSPAN4 regulates PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, influencing cell proliferation and survival. Dysregulation links it to cancer metastasis (breast, colorectal) via enhanced invasion, and emerging data connects it to Alzheimer’s disease through amyloid-beta aggregation modulation. Preclinical studies target TSPAN4-integrin interactions with small molecules or antibodies to inhibit metastasis, though no approved drugs exist yet.