Kunitz-type protease inhibitor 1 (SPINT1)

Kunitz-type protease inhibitor 1 (SPINT1) is a membrane-associated serine protease inhibitor that specifically inhibits hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFAC) and matriptase (ST14), playing an essential role in regulating proteolytic activation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in injured tissues[1][2][4][6]. It belongs to the Kunitz family of serine protease inhibitors and functions as a tumor suppressor, especially in maintaining the integrity of epithelial barriers in the intestine and suppressing colitis-associated carcinoma[3][7]. SPINT1/HAI-1 regulation is critical for controlling protease activity in epithelial tissues, and its dysregulation is associated with diseases such as certain cancers, congenital diarrhea with tufting enteropathy, and pulmonary embolism[2][3]. Alternative splicing of the SPINT1 gene produces multiple isoforms, and its expression is regulated by transcription factors such as CDX2 in intestinal tissues[3]. There are no approved drugs directly targeting SPINT1, and it serves more as an endogenous regulator and biomarker than a classical drug target at present[2][3].

Other names

Serine peptidase inhibitor, Kunitz type 1SPINT1HAI1HAI-1HAIMANSC2Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1UNQ223/PRO256