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Target intelligence / Profile preview
Heat shock 70 kDa protein 4-like (HSPA4L)
- Target
- HSPA4L
- Molecular classification
- Chaperone, Heat shock protein family A (Hsp70), Protein folding/quality control
01
Overview
Heat shock 70 kDa protein 4-like (HSPA4L) is a member of the Hsp70 family of molecular chaperones, encoded by the HSPA4L gene. It is heat shock inducible and protects cells by facilitating protein folding and preventing aggregation under cellular stress. HSPA4L is highly expressed in the testis and leukemia cells, and is upregulated in some cancers, where it may act as an oncogenic chaperone promoting cell proliferation and survival. Its abnormal expression is linked to several malignancies, and its promoter methylation or mutated status associates with poor prognosis. HSPA4L functions broadly in protein homeostasis, stress responses, and may serve as both a potential cancer biomarker and therapeutic target, though no direct targeting drugs are currently in clinical use. Caution is required as chaperone inhibition could broadly disrupt cell health
- Other names
- HSPA4LAPG-1APG1HSPH3Osp94heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 4 like
02
Mechanism of action
Blockade/inhibition would interfere with chaperone function, preventing correct protein folding, potentially increasing cell stress and apoptosis—possible future cancer therapeutic strategy Induction of immune response in leukemia (biomarker applications)
03
Biological functions
Protein foldingResponse to cellular stress (heat shock, osmotic stress)Prevention of protein aggregationProtein homeostasisPossibly apoptosis and immune response in some settings
04
Disease associations
Cancer (pan-cancer: colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, leukemia)Immune responsePossibly kidney osmotic stress adaptation
05
Safety considerations
Targeting HSPA4L or general HSP70 chaperones may disrupt essential protein homeostasis in normal cells, risking cytotoxicity and off-target effectsLack of clinical validation for safety of HSPA4L-targeted therapiesPotential for immune-related adverse events given immune system involvement
06
Interacting drugs
No approved drugs directly targeting HSPA4L as of the current data. (Potential drug target in cancer and leukemia under study but no clinical therapies identified)
07
Biomarkers
Overexpression in leukemia for diagnosis/prognosisAssociated with poor cancer prognosis in multiple tumorsMethylation status of promoter region as a prognostic indicator in some cancers
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