Nerve injury-induced protein 1 mRNA (NINJ1 mRNA)

Nerve injury-induced protein 1 (NINJ1) mRNA and pre-mRNA are the transcript forms of the NINJ1 gene, which encodes a 16-kDa transmembrane protein essential for plasma membrane rupture (PMR) during lytic cell death (Kayagaki et al., 2021). While historically recognized as a cell adhesion molecule that promotes axonal growth after nerve injury, NINJ1 has recently been identified as the active executor of cell lysis in pathways such as pyroptosis, apoptosis, and ferroptosis (Kayagaki et al., 2023). By mediating the final step of membrane rupture, NINJ1 facilitates the release of pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including HMGB1 and LDH, which drive tissue damage and chronic inflammation (Zhu & Xu, 2025). Targeting NINJ1 at the mRNA level using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) represents a promising therapeutic strategy to suppress this inflammatory release in conditions like multiple sclerosis, gout, and acute kidney injury (Zhang et al., 2022). Preclinical studies have demonstrated that NINJ1 knockdown can effectively reduce inflammation and preserve tissue integrity in various disease models. However, therapeutic development faces challenges such as ensuring efficient delivery to target tissues and avoiding interference with NINJ1's physiological roles in nerve repair and immune cell trafficking.

Other names

Ninjurin-1 mRNANINJ1 mRNANINJ1 pre-mRNANerve injury-induced protein 1 pre-mRNA

RNA interference or RNase H-mediated degradation of the target transcript to prevent protein translation