Nerve injury-induced protein 1 (NINJ1): from mediating plasma membrane rupture to therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases

NINJ1 was initially identified as a novel adhesion protein involved in cellular interactions. Early studies on NINJ1 mainly focused on nerve injury repair and tissue and vascular homeostasis. NINJ1 has been recently identified as the executor of PMR at the end-stage of the lytic cell death. PMR releases DAMPs that amplify the inflammatory response. This has contributed to the development of various human diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, tumors, and sepsis. Thus, targeting NINJ1 could be an important therapeutic option for treating immune-mediated diseases. In this paper, the activation mechanism, physiological and pathological functions of NINJ1, and the therapeutic strategies targeting NINJ1 are summarized. The application prospects and challenges of NINJ1 as a therapeutic target are discussed.