NKAIN1 (sodium/potassium transporting ATPase interacting 1) is a transmembrane protein that interacts with the β1 subunit of the Na,K-ATPase and regulates sodium ion transport 1. NKAIN1 is neuronally expressed across multiple brain regions 1 and functions as part of a protein complex; in mammals, NKAIN1 cooperates with MONaKA to regulate Na+-specific conductance 1. Drosophila NKAIN mutants exhibit temperature-sensitive paralysis, indicating critical importance for neuronal function 1. Beyond its canonical ion transport role, NKAIN1 has emerged as a disease-associated gene. Genome-wide association studies identified NKAIN1-SERINC2 as a genome-wide significant risk locus specific for alcohol dependence in individuals of European descent 23, potentially acting through neurotransmitter and metabolic pathways 2. Clinically, NKAIN1 functions as an oncogene: it is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and promotes tumor cell proliferation and metastasis 4. Similarly, elevated NKAIN1 expression in gastric cancer correlates with immune evasion markers (CTLA-4, PD-L1) and serves as an independent prognostic factor for adverse outcomes 5. NKAIN1 was also identified among differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer immune microenvironment studies 6 and as a candidate biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer 7, suggesting broader oncogenic relevance across multiple cancer types.