ATG4C (Autophagy Related 4C Cysteine Peptidase)

Clinically, ATG4D protein expression was elevated in osteosarcoma tissues compared to normal bone cells, with higher levels correlating with poor overall survival, particularly in patients older than 10 years or with tumors located in the lower limbs. These findings suggest that ATG4D may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Reduced ATG4D mRNA levels were also correlated with higher metastasis rates and shorter distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), highlighting a potential association of ATG4D with DMFS. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of assessing autophagy-related gene expression as a valuable tool for predicting clinical outcomes in NPC and underscore the need for further research to validate these results and explore therapeutic implications.

Genetic analyses in dogs, along with loss-of-function zebrafish and mouse models, further support a neuroprotective role for ATG4D. Here we discuss the evidence connecting ATG4D to neurological diseases and other pathologies and summarize its roles in both autophagy-dependent and autophagy-independent cellular processes.

Based on multivariate analysis, the C/C genotype of rs4684787 and age were independently associated with gastric mucosal atrophy. This finding helps stratify the patients needing timely endoscopic screening or early eradication of H. pylori.

ATG4 (autophagy related 4 cysteine peptidase); ATG4A (autophagy related 4A cysteine peptidase); ATG4B (autophagy related 4B cysteine peptidase); ATG4C (autophagy related 4C cysteine peptidase); ATG4D (autophagy related 4D cysteine peptidase); Atg8 (autophagy related 8); GABARAP (GABA type A receptor-associated protein); GABARAPL1(GABA type A receptor-associated protein like 1); GABARAPL2 (GABA type A receptor-associated protein like 2); MAP1LC3A/LC3A (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha); MAP1LC3B/LC3B (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta); mATG8 (mammalian Atg8); PE (phosphatidylethanolamine); PS (phosphatydylserine); SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1).