GPNMB
Function
Could be a melanogenic enzyme.
Involvement in disease
Increased expression levels in glioblastoma multiforme biopsy samples correlate with poor patient survival prognosis (PubMed:16609006). Has been proposed as a potential target for antibodies coupled to cytotoxic drugs in the context of cancer immunotherapy, including that of melanoma (PubMed:16489096).
Amyloidosis, primary localized cutaneous, 3
PLCA3
A primary amyloidosis characterized by localized cutaneous amyloid deposition. This condition usually presents with itching (especially on the lower legs) and visible changes of skin hyperpigmentation and thickening that may be exacerbated by chronic scratching and rubbing. Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis is often divided into macular and lichen subtypes although many affected individuals often show both variants coexisting. Lichen amyloidosis characteristically presents as a pruritic eruption of grouped hyperkeratotic papules with a predilection for the shins, calves, ankles and dorsa of feet and thighs. Papules may coalesce to form hyperkeratotic plaques that can resemble lichen planus, lichen simplex or nodular prurigo. Macular amyloidosis is characterized by small pigmented macules that may merge to produce macular hyperpigmentation, sometimes with a reticulate or rippled pattern. In macular and lichen amyloidosis, amyloid is deposited in the papillary dermis in association with grouped colloid bodies, thought to represent degenerate basal keratinocytes. The amyloid deposits probably reflect a combination of degenerate keratin filaments, serum amyloid P component, and deposition of immunoglobulins. PLCA3 inheritance is autosomal recessive.
None
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the PMEL/NMB family.
Tissue Specificity
Widely expressed, but very low expression, if any, in the brain (PubMed:12609765, PubMed:16609006). Expressed in the epidermis with higher levels in melanocytes compared with keratinocytes and Langerhans cells (at protein level) (PubMed:29336782). Expressed in peripheral blood, but not bone marrow mononuclear cells (PubMed:12609765). Expressed in tissue macrophages, including liver Kuppfer cells and lung alveolar macrophages, in podocytes and in some cells of the ciliary body of the eye (at protein level) (PubMed:16489096). May be overexpressed in various cancers, including melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme (PubMed:16489096, PubMed:16609006, PubMed:7814155).
Cellular localization
- Cell membrane
- Single-pass type I membrane protein
- Melanosome membrane
- Single-pass type I membrane protein
- Early endosome membrane
- Single-pass type I membrane protein
- Identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions from stage I to stage IV.
Alternative names
HGFIN, NMB, UNQ1725/PRO9925, GPNMB, Transmembrane glycoprotein NMB, Hematopoietic growth factor inducible neurokinin-1 type