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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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CLIC4
chloride intracellular channel 4
Chromosome 1 · 1p36.11
NCBI Gene: 25932Ensembl: ENSG00000169504.16HGNC: HGNC:13518UniProt: Q6FIC5
120PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
1Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Ion ChannelTransporter
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
plasma membranemicrovilluscell-cell junctionextracellular exosomehypertensioncardiovascular diseasepost-operative sign or symptomcervical carcinoma
✦AI Summary

CLIC4 (chloride intracellular channel 4) is a multifunctional protein with dual roles in cellular homeostasis and disease pathology. In its soluble state, CLIC4 catalyzes glutaredoxin-like thiol-disulfide exchange reactions 1, while membrane-inserted forms create voltage-dependent chloride channels under redox-regulated conditions 2. CLIC4 localizes to the nucleus upon cellular stress (DNA damage, TNF-α, TGF-β stimulation) where it enhances TGF-β signaling by stabilizing phosphorylated Smad2/3, promoting growth arrest and apoptosis 3. Additionally, CLIC4 regulates endothelial function through multiple mechanisms: it mediates PAR1-dependent RhoA activation controlling barrier integrity 4, activates Arf6-mediated endosomal trafficking affecting BMPRII expression 5, and promotes alveolar cell plasticity via the PCLAF-DREAM complex during lung regeneration 6. CLIC4 is essential for successful cytokinesis by bridging plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton through ezrin activation 7. In cancer, CLIC4 expression is paradoxically reduced and excluded from tumor cell nuclei (loss of tumor suppressor function) but upregulated in tumor-associated myofibroblasts, marking malignant progression 89. Reactivation of nuclear CLIC4 in tumor cells suppresses growth, suggesting therapeutic potential.

Sources cited
1
CLIC4 catalyzes glutaredoxin-like thiol-disulfide exchange reactions with reduced glutathione
PMID: 25581026
2
CLIC4 forms voltage-dependent multi-ion conductive channels in membranes under oxidizing conditions
PMID: 16176272
3
CLIC4 enhances TGF-β signaling by associating with phospho-Smad2/3 and preventing dephosphorylation, promoting growth inhibition
PMID: 20617112
4
CLIC4 is required for thrombin-mediated PAR1 signaling to activate RhoA and disrupt endothelial barrier integrity
PMID: 37317855
5
CLIC4 is elevated in pulmonary hypertension and activates Arf6-mediated endosomal trafficking, reducing BMPRII expression
PMID: 30582444
6
PCLAF-DREAM complex transactivates CLIC4 to promote alveolar cell plasticity and AT1 cell generation during lung regeneration
PMID: 39448571
7
CLIC4 bridges plasma membrane and cortical actin network via ezrin activation to ensure successful cytokinesis
PMID: 31879279
8
CLIC4 is reduced and excluded from tumor cell nuclei but upregulated in myofibroblasts, marking malignant progression in multiple cancers
PMID: 17200346
9
CLIC4 overexpression inhibits tumor growth in vivo when expressed in cancer cells but stimulates growth when overexpressed in tumor stroma
PMID: 17443730
Disease Associationsⓘ20
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.45Moderate
cardiovascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.34Weak
post-operative sign or symptomOpen Targets
0.30Weak
cervical carcinomaOpen Targets
0.30Weak
response to xenobiotic stimulusOpen Targets
0.30Weak
Increased blood pressureOpen Targets
0.29Weak
exostosisOpen Targets
0.28Weak
Short statureOpen Targets
0.26Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.26Weak
diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.24Weak
female reproductive system diseaseOpen Targets
0.23Weak
sign or symptomOpen Targets
0.22Weak
androgenetic alopeciaOpen Targets
0.16Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
systemic sclerodermaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
familial multiple nevi flammeiOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants1
NM_013943.3(CLIC4):c.220C>T (p.His74Tyr)Likely pathogenic
Short stature
☆☆☆☆2001→ Residue 74
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
TPRNProtein interaction100%EZRProtein interaction97%SMAD3Protein interaction92%CLIC2Protein interaction86%CLIC5Protein interaction86%CLIC6Protein interaction80%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Brain
63%
Lung
36%
Bone Marrow
17%
Ovary
12%
Liver
11%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
CLIC4TPRNEZRSMAD3CLIC2CLIC5CLIC6
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2AHE · 1.80 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.90LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.04Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.52 [0.31–0.90]
RankingsWhere CLIC4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #3,911of 20,598
    Most Researched120 · top quartile
  • #4,832of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants1
  • #8,141of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.90
Genes detectedCLIC4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
CLIC4/Arf6 Pathway.
PMID: 30582444
Circ Res · 2019
1.00
2
PCLAF-DREAM drives alveolar cell plasticity for lung regeneration.
PMID: 39448571
Nat Commun · 2024
0.90
3
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote Angiogenesis: Evidence From Vascular Pathology in Pulmonary Hypertension.
PMID: 27470511
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol · 2016
0.80
4
CLIC4 Regulates Endothelial Barrier Control by Mediating PAR1 Signaling via RhoA.
PMID: 37317855
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol · 2023
0.70
5
CLIC4 and Schnurri-2: a dynamic duo in TGF-beta signaling with broader implications in cellular homeostasis and disease.
PMID: 20617112
Nucleus · 2010
0.60