TMEM161A is a transmembrane protein that plays a protective role against oxidative stress. Overexpression reduces oxidant-induced DNA damage and apoptosis, with functional annotation indicating involvement in cellular response to oxidative stress, UV response, and positive regulation of DNA repair 1. In disease contexts, TMEM161A has been identified as a tumor-associated antigen in non-small cell lung cancer, where it is overexpressed and recognized by tumor-infiltrating T cells with cross-reactive specificity to viral and bacterial epitopes 2. TMEM161A has also emerged as a feature gene in osteonecrosis of the femoral head pathogenesis, where it associates with dysregulated oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species metabolism 1. Additionally, rare functional variants in TMEM161A have been detected in patients with multiple autoimmune syndrome and Sjögren's syndrome, suggesting potential involvement in autoimmune pathways 3. A damaging missense variant in the rat ortholog Tmem161a was identified in a genetic model of metabolic syndrome 4, indicating possible broader metabolic relevance. Collectively, TMEM161A represents a multifunctional protein with oxidative stress protective mechanisms relevant to cancer immunology, bone disease, autoimmunity, and metabolic disorders.