Uroplakin 1B (UPK1B) (UPK1B)

Uroplakin 1B (UPK1B), also known as Tetraspanin-20, is a specialized integral membrane protein belonging to the tetraspanin family (UniProt: O75841) [1]. It is a primary component of the asymmetric unit membrane (AUM) of the urothelium, where it forms a complex with Uroplakin 3 to create urothelial plaques (NCBI Gene: 7348) [2]. These plaques are essential for maintaining the blood-urine permeability barrier and allowing the bladder to withstand the mechanical stresses of expansion and contraction (PubMed: 10359604) [3]. In clinical oncology, UPK1B mRNA is frequently utilized as a highly specific biomarker for the detection of circulating tumor cells and the diagnosis of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (PubMed: 25650318) [4]. While no drugs are currently approved that specifically target UPK1B mRNA or its protein product, it remains a subject of research for targeted delivery systems and RNA-based therapies due to its restricted expression in the urinary tract (PubMed: 31434040) [5]. Its role in urinary tract infections, where it may serve as a receptor for uropathogenic Escherichia coli, also highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for infectious diseases [1].

Other names

TSPAN20UP1BUPIBTetraspanin-20

No currently approved drugs; potential mechanisms include RNA interference (siRNA) or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to downregulate expression, or antibody-based targeting of the protein product.