Tetraspanin 13 mRNA (TSPAN13 mRNA)

Tetraspanin 13 (TSPAN13) mRNA encodes a member of the tetraspanin family, a group of four-pass transmembrane proteins that function as molecular organizers by forming tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs) in the plasma membrane (NIH, 2024). TSPAN13 is involved in a variety of critical cellular processes, including signal transduction, cell proliferation, motility, and the regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels, specifically CaV2.2, which influences neurotransmitter release (ResearchGate, 2022). In the context of oncology, TSPAN13 mRNA levels are frequently dysregulated; it is often overexpressed in prostate, thyroid, and pediatric brain cancers, where it may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker, while in breast cancer, it has been described as both a tumor suppressor and a promoter of growth depending on the disease stage (GeneCards, 2024; NIH, 2026). Recent evidence suggests that TSPAN13 promotes the degradation of MHC-I molecules, contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and resistance to immunotherapy (NIH, 2026). Although no FDA-approved drugs currently target TSPAN13 mRNA directly, experimental studies using siRNA and shRNA have demonstrated that silencing its expression can inhibit tumor progression and enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD-L1 (ResearchGate, 2026). Therapeutic development faces challenges due to the protein's multifaceted roles in both normal physiology and pathological states.

Other names

NET-6 mRNATM4SF13 mRNATetraspan NET-6 mRNATransmembrane 4 superfamily member 13 mRNATetraspanin-13 mRNA

RNA interference-mediated gene silencing targeting the TSPAN13 transcript to reduce protein expression.