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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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GPR146
G protein-coupled receptor 146
Chromosome 7 · 7p22.3
NCBI Gene: 115330Ensembl: ENSG00000164849.11HGNC: HGNC:21718UniProt: A4D2Q3
19PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
regulation of cholesterol biosynthetic processadenylate cyclase-inhibiting G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathwayG protein-coupled receptor activityplasma membraneatrial fibrillationKnee painduodenitisneurodegenerative disease
✦AI Summary

GPR146 is a G protein-coupled receptor that plays a central role in cholesterol homeostasis by coordinating intestinal cholesterol absorption with hepatic cholesterol synthesis 1. The receptor functions as the cognate receptor for Cholesin, a gut-derived hormone secreted in response to intestinal cholesterol absorption 1. Upon Cholesin binding, GPR146 exerts antagonistic effects by inhibiting PKA signaling and suppressing SREBP2-controlled cholesterol synthesis in the liver, thereby reducing circulating cholesterol levels 1. Mechanistically, GPR146 also activates the ERK signaling pathway to promote hepatic SREBP2 activity and VLDL secretion, influencing LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels 2. Clinically, GPR146 deficiency substantially reduces plasma cholesterol and produces remarkable 90% and 70% reductions in atherosclerotic lesions in male and female LDLR-deficient mice, respectively 2. Human genetic studies demonstrate that rare GPR146 variants are associated with reduced plasma cholesterol levels 3. Beyond lipid metabolism, GPR146 expression is upregulated in pulmonary hypertension, where it promotes pyroptosis of pulmonary artery endothelial cells and proliferation of smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase pathways, contributing to pulmonary vascular remodeling 45. These findings establish GPR146 inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy for hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, and potentially pulmonary hypertension.

Sources cited
1
Cholesin is a gut-derived hormone that binds GPR146 to inhibit cholesterol synthesis in liver by suppressing PKA signaling and SREBP2
PMID: 38503280
2
GPR146 promotes SREBP2 activity through ERK signaling to regulate VLDL secretion and cholesterol levels; GPR146 deficiency reduces atherosclerosis by 90% in males and 70% in females
PMID: 31778654
3
Rare GPR146 variants including P62L are associated with reduced plasma cholesterol levels in humans
PMID: 40120432
4
GPR146 is upregulated in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and promotes pyroptosis of pulmonary artery endothelial cells through NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling
PMID: 36638952
5
GPR146 regulates pulmonary vascular remodeling by promoting smooth muscle cell proliferation through 5-lipoxygenase in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
PMID: 37926274
Disease Associationsⓘ20
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Knee painOpen Targets
0.31Weak
duodenitisOpen Targets
0.31Weak
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.30Weak
ankylosing spondylitisOpen Targets
0.30Weak
COVID-19Open Targets
0.29Weak
HypercholesterolemiaOpen Targets
0.25Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.20Weak
cholelithiasisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Hemolytic anemia due to red cell pyruvate kinase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Adult-onset autosomal recessive sideroblastic anemiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Beta-thalassemia - X-linked thrombocytopeniaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
beta-thalassemia-X-linked thrombocytopenia syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
inflammatory bowel diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hypertriglyceridemia 2Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin-sickle cell disease syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
familial pseudohyperkalemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hemoglobin D diseaseOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hemoglobin E-beta-thalassemia syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
OXER1Shared pathway50%SEC14L2Shared pathway50%HCAR3Shared pathway33%HCAR1Shared pathway33%CORTShared pathway25%TAAR1Shared pathway25%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
100%
Brain
83%
Heart
71%
Liver
70%
Ovary
46%
Bone Marrow
32%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GPR146OXER1SEC14L2HCAR3HCAR1CORTTAAR1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q96CH1
View on AlphaFold ↗
RankingsWhere GPR146 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #14,436of 20,598
    Most Researched19
Genes detectedGPR146
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
A gut-derived hormone regulates cholesterol metabolism.
PMID: 38503280
Cell · 2024
1.00
2
GPR146 Deficiency Protects against Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis.
PMID: 31778654
Cell · 2019
0.90
3
A study into rare GPR146 gene variants in humans and mice.
PMID: 40120432
Atherosclerosis · 2025
0.80
4
Cholesin and GPR146 in Modulating Cholesterol Biosynthesis.
PMID: 39008961
Pharmacology · 2024
0.70
5
Orphan GPR146: an alternative therapeutic pathway to achieve cholesterol homeostasis?
PMID: 35550855
Trends Endocrinol Metab · 2022
0.60