Vanin-1 (VNN1)

Vanin-1 (VNN1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored ectoenzyme highly expressed on the surface of cells in multiple organs, including liver, kidney, and intestine. Its main function is its pantetheinase activity—catalyzing the hydrolysis of pantetheine to cysteamine and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), the latter being a precursor for coenzyme A synthesis. Vanin-1 is implicated in multiple biological processes, including lipid metabolism, energy production, response to oxidative stress, and modulation of inflammatory responses. It has roles in several diseases, such as metabolic disorders (diabetes, hepatic steatosis), inflammation, and kidney injury, making it a potential therapeutic target and biomarker. The enzyme is regulated by nuclear receptors such as PPAR-α and PPAR-γ, linking vanin-1 activity to metabolic and inflammatory signaling pathways. Recent studies have highlighted vanin-1's relevance as a drug target, with inhibitors in preclinical development as potential treatments for inflammatory and metabolic diseases

Other names

PantetheinaseVascular non-inflammatory molecule 1Pantetheine hydrolaseTiff66HDLCQ8Vanin 1pantetheinasevascular non-inflammatory molecule 1

Inhibitors block pantetheinase activity, reducing production of cysteamine and pantothenic acid, thereby altering oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic signaling