ANGPTL4
Description
The ANGPTL4 (angiopoietin like 4) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 19.
ANGPTL4 is a protein encoded by the ANGPTL4 gene in humans. It is a serum hormone that directly regulates lipid metabolism. It is induced under low oxygen conditions in various cell types and is a target of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. This protein has been implicated in numerous cancers, influencing the metastatic process by modulating vascular permeability, cancer cell motility, and invasiveness. The gene was previously called ANGPTL2, HFARP, PGAR, or FIAF, but has been renamed ANGPTL4. It is a member of the angiopoietin-like gene family and encodes a glycosylated, secreted protein with a coiled-coil N-terminal domain and a fibrinogen-like C-terminal domain. In mice, the highest levels of ANGPTL4 mRNA are found in white and brown adipose tissue, followed by liver, kidney, muscle, and intestinal tissues. In humans, the highest expression of ANGPTL4 occurs in the liver as a hepatokine.
ANGPTL4 inactivates lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which plays a key role in regulating triglyceride clearance from the blood serum and overall lipid metabolism. Additionally, ANGPTL4 may contribute to glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. This protein inhibits the growth, movement, and tube formation of endothelial cells, ultimately reducing vascular leakage. When expressed in a foreign system, ANGPTL4 hinders endothelial cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM), impacting the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, formation of actin stress fibers, and focal adhesions in endothelial cells that have adhered to ANGPTL4-containing ECM (in vitro). ANGPTL4's role in tumor-related angiogenesis is complex and context-dependent.
ANGPTL4 is also known as ARP4, FIAF, HARP, HFARP, NL2, PGAR, TGQTL, UNQ171, pp1158.
