Semaphorin-4B (SEMA4B)

Semaphorin-4B (SEMA4B) is a transmembrane signaling receptor belonging to the class 4 semaphorin family. It has a sema domain, an immunoglobulin domain, a transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail containing a PDZ-binding motif, allowing interaction with proteins such as PSD-95/SAP90[2]. SEMA4B is expressed in various tissues and involved in critical functions such as axon guidance (by inhibiting axonal outgrowth and defining neural territories), cell motility regulation, and neural crest migration. It participates in chemorepellent signaling and interacts with neuropilins and semaphorin receptors[1][6][5]. Recent data show SEMA4B can be shed by the metalloprotease ADAM17 in adipose tissue, where it functions as an adipokine to inhibit adipocyte differentiation and thermogenic activity, implicating a role in energy metabolism and obesity[3]. SEMA4B is genetically associated with disorders such as megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and may play roles in cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders through its impact on cell signaling and migration[1][3]. No drugs are approved for direct targeting of SEMA4B, and no standardized biomarkers or safety issues are reported in the context of therapeutic intervention.

Other names

Semaphorin-4BSEMA4BKIAA1745SEMACSemCSemaphorin-CMGC131831UNQ749/PRO1480

Not established for approved drugs; for experimental molecules: - ADAM17-cleaved SEMA4B acts as an adipokine inhibiting adipocyte differentiation and dampens thermogenic responses through autocrine repression of genes involved in adipogenesis, thermogenesis, and lipid metabolism