Table 1.

Physiological roles of TMEM63 protein family

MemberExpressionRelated physiology/pathologyRef
TMEM63A Oligodendrocytes and central nervous system Mutations cause infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy Yan et al. (2019)  
Mutation identified in infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy Tonduti et al. (2021)  
Mutations cause infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy with global developmental delay Fukumura et al. (2022)  
Modulates myelin and myelin-associated protein production Halford et al. (2025)  
Triple-negative breast cancer Acts as an oncogene; involved in autophagy-mediated degradation pathway Zhang et al. (2023b)  
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma Potential therapeutic target; knockout inhibits diffuse large B cell lymphoma proliferation Wu et al. (2022)  
Dorsal root ganglion neurons Mediates macrophage infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine release, leading to pain hypersensitivity in chronic postamputation pain Pu et al. (2023)  
Alveolar type 2 epithelial cells, lung Mediates lung inflation-induced surfactant and ATP release Chen et al. (2024)  
TMEM63B Alveolar type 2 epithelial cells, lung Mediates lung inflation-induced surfactant and ATP release Chen et al. (2024)  
Intestinal stem cells and small intestine Regulates intestinal stem cell proliferation and motility Tu et al. (2024)  
Subfornical organ neurons Directly responds to hyperosmolarity in thirst Zou et al. (2025)  
Osmosensor detecting systemic hyperosmolality for thirst drive Yang et al. (2024)  
Cochlear sensory epithelial cells, inner ear Regulates the regression of the greater epithelial ridge for normal onset of hearing Ye et al. (2024)  
Outer hair cells and inner ear Osmosensing regulates cell volume Du et al. (2020)  
Brain Gain-of-function variants cause neurodevelopmental disorder with epilepsy and neurodegeneration Vetro et al. (2023)  
Pancreatic β-cells Responds to glucose-induced swelling, triggering depolarization and insulin secretion Tu et al. (2025)  
Olfactory interneurons Mediates mechanical signaling for somal translocation during neuronal migration Minegishi et al. (2025)  
TMEM63C Podocytes and kidney Downregulated in angiotensin II-induced podocyte apoptosis Eisenreich et al. (2020)  
Downregulation causes podocyte loss; restoring TMEM63C rescues their viability Orphal et al. (2020)  
Essential for normal kidney filtration barrier function Schulz et al. (2019)  
Nervous system Dysfunction disrupts ER-mitochondrial contact sites in hereditary spastic paraplegia Tábara et al. (2022)  
MemberExpressionRelated physiology/pathologyRef
TMEM63A Oligodendrocytes and central nervous system Mutations cause infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy Yan et al. (2019)  
Mutation identified in infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy Tonduti et al. (2021)  
Mutations cause infantile hypomyelinating leukodystrophy with global developmental delay Fukumura et al. (2022)  
Modulates myelin and myelin-associated protein production Halford et al. (2025)  
Triple-negative breast cancer Acts as an oncogene; involved in autophagy-mediated degradation pathway Zhang et al. (2023b)  
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma Potential therapeutic target; knockout inhibits diffuse large B cell lymphoma proliferation Wu et al. (2022)  
Dorsal root ganglion neurons Mediates macrophage infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine release, leading to pain hypersensitivity in chronic postamputation pain Pu et al. (2023)  
Alveolar type 2 epithelial cells, lung Mediates lung inflation-induced surfactant and ATP release Chen et al. (2024)  
TMEM63B Alveolar type 2 epithelial cells, lung Mediates lung inflation-induced surfactant and ATP release Chen et al. (2024)  
Intestinal stem cells and small intestine Regulates intestinal stem cell proliferation and motility Tu et al. (2024)  
Subfornical organ neurons Directly responds to hyperosmolarity in thirst Zou et al. (2025)  
Osmosensor detecting systemic hyperosmolality for thirst drive Yang et al. (2024)  
Cochlear sensory epithelial cells, inner ear Regulates the regression of the greater epithelial ridge for normal onset of hearing Ye et al. (2024)  
Outer hair cells and inner ear Osmosensing regulates cell volume Du et al. (2020)  
Brain Gain-of-function variants cause neurodevelopmental disorder with epilepsy and neurodegeneration Vetro et al. (2023)  
Pancreatic β-cells Responds to glucose-induced swelling, triggering depolarization and insulin secretion Tu et al. (2025)  
Olfactory interneurons Mediates mechanical signaling for somal translocation during neuronal migration Minegishi et al. (2025)  
TMEM63C Podocytes and kidney Downregulated in angiotensin II-induced podocyte apoptosis Eisenreich et al. (2020)  
Downregulation causes podocyte loss; restoring TMEM63C rescues their viability Orphal et al. (2020)  
Essential for normal kidney filtration barrier function Schulz et al. (2019)  
Nervous system Dysfunction disrupts ER-mitochondrial contact sites in hereditary spastic paraplegia Tábara et al. (2022)  

Summary of all established physiological and pathological functions of TMEM63s, including mechanosensation and osmoregulation processes in specific cell types.

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal