TINF2 encodes a critical component of the shelterin complex (telosome), a protein assembly that protects telomeres and regulates telomere length 1. As a member of the shelterin complex, TINF2 associates with telomeric TTAGGG repeat arrays and prevents inappropriate recognition of chromosome 14 as DNA breaks, thereby protecting them from aberrant DNA repair pathways 1. TINF2 plays an important role in shelterin complex assembly and may tether telomeres to the nuclear matrix 2. The gene is expressed as a housekeeping gene across diverse tissues 2. Pathogenic TINF2 variants cause autosomal dominant dyskeratosis congenita (DC) and related telomere biology disorders (TBDs), characterized by critically short telomeres and multisystem manifestations 13. Patients with TINF2 mutations experience severe bone marrow failure, liver disease, and gastrointestinal complications, with significantly worse survival outcomes compared to other inherited telomere disorders 3. TINF2-mutant individuals also show elevated cancer risk, particularly for solid tumors following organ transplantation 4. Additionally, TINF2 dysregulation has been associated with psychiatric conditions; reduced TINF2 expression emerged as a biomarker for suicidality risk in psychiatric patients 5. These findings establish TINF2 as essential for telomere maintenance and protection, with its dysfunction causing severe inherited bone marrow failure syndromes.
No tissue expression data available for this gene.