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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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PCDH7
protocadherin 7
Chromosome 4 · 4p15.1
NCBI Gene: 5099Ensembl: ENSG00000169851.16HGNC: HGNC:8659UniProt: A0A8Q3SI70
62PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
cell junctionplasma membraneglutamatergic synapsecell adhesion molecule bindingAbnormality of the skeletal systemattention deficit hyperactivity disordergeneralised epilepsyrisk-taking behaviour
✦AI Summary

PCDH7 (protocadherin 7) is a non-clustered protocadherin belonging to the δ1 subgroup, primarily expressed in the nervous system with region-specific patterns in cortical and hippocampal areas 1. As a cell adhesion molecule, PCDH7 mediates homophilic/heterophilic cell-cell adhesion and engages in distinct cell signaling partnerships 1. In cancer biology, PCDH7 promotes assembly of gap junctions between carcinoma cells and astrocytes through connexin 43, facilitating transfer of the second messenger cGAMP and subsequent activation of pro-inflammatory pathways (STING, STAT1, NF-κB) that support brain metastatic growth and chemoresistance 2. Clinically, PCDH7 has emerged as a novel target antigen in membranous nephropathy (MN), a common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome 3. PCDH7-associated MN occurs when autoimmune responses generate IgG antibodies against PCDH7, leading to subepithelial immune complex deposition along the glomerular basement membrane; this distinct disease entity accounts for approximately 5.7% of PLA2R-negative MN cases and shows minimal complement deposition 34. Genome-wide association studies have also identified PCDH7 variants linked to epilepsy susceptibility 5, suggesting roles in synaptic function. Gap junction modulators offer potential therapeutic approaches for PCDH7-associated brain metastasis.

Sources cited
1
PCDH7 is a non-clustered protocadherin in the δ1 subgroup, expressed predominantly in nervous system with region-specific patterns and mediates cell adhesion with distinct signaling partnerships
PMID: 21173574
2
PCDH7 promotes carcinoma-astrocyte gap junction assembly facilitating cGAMP transfer and inflammatory cytokine production supporting brain metastasis
PMID: 27225120
3
PCDH7 is a novel target antigen in membranous nephropathy, identified in 5.7% of PLA2R-negative cases with IgG immune complex deposition at the glomerular basement membrane
PMID: 33833079
4
PCDH7-associated membranous nephropathy has distinctive clinical and pathologic findings with different diagnostic and therapeutic implications
PMID: 37863839
5
PCDH7 is among newly identified target antigens in membranous nephropathy, identified in approximately 80% of MN cases
PMID: 40691733
6
PCDH7 variants near this locus are linked to epilepsy risk through genome-wide association studies
PMID: 39032529
7
PCDH7 can co-occur with other antigens in dual-antigen membranous nephropathy cases detected by mass spectrometry
PMID: 41197955
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.51Moderate
attention deficit hyperactivity disorderOpen Targets
0.37Weak
generalised epilepsyOpen Targets
0.35Weak
risk-taking behaviourOpen Targets
0.35Weak
ovarian dysfunctionOpen Targets
0.35Weak
smoking initiationOpen Targets
0.33Weak
epilepsyOpen Targets
0.32Weak
response to antipsychotic drugOpen Targets
0.32Weak
hemolytic anemiaOpen Targets
0.31Weak
connective tissue neoplasmOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Abnormality of the gastrointestinal tractOpen Targets
0.29Weak
complicationOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Herpes ZosterOpen Targets
0.29Weak
adolescent idiopathic scoliosisOpen Targets
0.29Weak
substance abuseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.28Weak
nervous system diseaseOpen Targets
0.28Weak
tongue cancerOpen Targets
0.28Weak
Abnormal pupillary functionOpen Targets
0.27Weak
hyperaldosteronismOpen Targets
0.24Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
CDHR4Shared pathway100%PCDH11YShared pathway100%PCDH20Shared pathway100%PCDH19Shared pathway100%PCDH11XShared pathway100%GJA1Protein interaction94%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Brain
28%
Ovary
3%
Lung
2%
Liver
1%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
PCDH7CDHR4PCDH11YPCDH20PCDH19PCDH11XGJA1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2YST · NMR
View on RCSB ↗
RankingsWhere PCDH7 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #7,491of 20,598
    Most Researched62
Genes detectedPCDH7
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
New 'Antigens' in Membranous Nephropathy.
PMID: 33380523
J Am Soc Nephrol · 2021
1.00
2
Carcinoma-astrocyte gap junctions promote brain metastasis by cGAMP transfer.
PMID: 27225120
Nature · 2016
0.90
3
Membranous nephropathy-diagnosis and identification of target antigens.
PMID: 37863839
Nephrol Dial Transplant · 2024
0.80
4
Antigens in membranous nephropathy: discovery and clinical implications.
PMID: 40691733
Nat Rev Nephrol · 2025
0.70
5
Unraveling the genetic basis of epilepsy: Recent advances and implications for diagnosis and treatment.
PMID: 39032529
Brain Res · 2024
0.60