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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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TAFA4
TAFA chemokine like family member 4
Chromosome 3 · 3p14.1
NCBI Gene: 151647Ensembl: ENSG00000163377.17HGNC: HGNC:21591UniProt: Q96LR4
32PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
GO:0005615protein bindingphagocytosisregulation of signaling receptor activityself-injurious ideationobesityAbnormality of refractionpreeclampsia
✦AI Summary

TAFA4 (TAFA chemokine-like family member 4) is a neuron-derived secreted protein with dual roles in nociception and immune regulation. As a ligand of formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), TAFA4 chemoattracts macrophages, promotes their phagocytosis, and increases reactive oxygen species release 1. In pain processing, TAFA4 is expressed across species in distinct dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron populations 2 and reverses injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity through low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins (LRPs) by restoring normal spinal neuron ion currents 3. Beyond pain, TAFA4 demonstrates immunomodulatory functions: it suppresses mast cell activation in allergic rhinitis by downregulating FcεRI expression through a TAFA4-PTEN-PU.1 axis, with therapeutic potential for anti-allergy treatment 4. During viral infection, sensory neuron-derived TAFA4 promotes disease tolerance via an IL-10 pathway in infected DRGs, reducing inflammation without impairing pathogen clearance 5. These findings position TAFA4 as a druggable target bridging neuroimmune communication, with clinical applications spanning pain management and allergic/inflammatory conditions.

Sources cited
1
TAFA4 is expressed in distinct populations of DRG neurons across species and is a member of the druggable genome
PMID: 36690629
2
TAFA4 reverses injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity through LRP-dependent mechanisms by restoring spinal neuron ion currents
PMID: 34706225
3
TAFA4 is an FPR1 ligand that chemoattracts macrophages and promotes phagocytosis and ROS release
PMID: 29167066
4
TAFA4 suppresses mast cell activation and FcεRI expression through TAFA4-PTEN-PU.1 axis, alleviating allergic rhinitis
PMID: 36368013
5
Sensory neuron-derived TAFA4 promotes disease tolerance during viral infection through IL-10 pathway in DRGs
PMID: 41747735
Disease Associationsⓘ20
self-injurious ideationOpen Targets
0.36Weak
obesityOpen Targets
0.28Weak
Abnormality of refractionOpen Targets
0.27Weak
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.27Weak
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.27Weak
duodenal ulcerOpen Targets
0.25Weak
ventricular fibrillationOpen Targets
0.25Weak
insomniaOpen Targets
0.23Weak
liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.23Weak
frozen shoulderOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Hemoglobin E - beta-thalassemiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hemoglobin E-beta-thalassemia syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
primary familial polycythemia due to EPO receptor mutationOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Adult-onset autosomal recessive sideroblastic anemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
hemolytic anemia due to diphosphoglycerate mutase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
IRIDA syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
erythrocytosis, familial, 3Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
erythrocytosis, familial, 6Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
hemolytic anemia due to erythrocyte adenosine deaminase overproductionOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
X-linked sideroblastic anemia 1Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
PHACTR3Protein interaction73%NCF4Shared pathway50%LTAP1Shared pathway33%CD302Shared pathway33%NCF2Shared pathway29%PLD4Shared pathway25%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Ovary
10%
Lung
4%
Bone Marrow
3%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
TAFA4PHACTR3NCF4LTAP1CD302NCF2PLD4
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q96LR4
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.33LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.91 [0.63–1.33]
RankingsWhere TAFA4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #11,626of 20,598
    Most Researched32
  • #13,981of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.33
Genes detectedTAFA4
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Cross-species transcriptomic atlas of dorsal root ganglia reveals species-specific programs for sensory function.
PMID: 36690629
Nat Commun · 2023
1.00
2
TAFA4 relieves injury-induced mechanical hypersensitivity through LDL receptors and modulation of spinal A-type K
PMID: 34706225
Cell Rep · 2021
0.90
3
Role of specialized sensory neuron subtypes in modulating peripheral immune responses.
PMID: 40324383
Immunity · 2025
0.80
4
Signals from the TAFA4-PTEN-PU.1 axis alleviate nasal allergy by modulating the expression of FcεRI in mast cells.
PMID: 36368013
Clin Exp Immunol · 2023
0.70
5
Sensory neuron production of substance P and TAFA4 promotes disease tolerance during viral infection.
PMID: 41747735
Immunity · 2026
0.60