REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Cytokines and Soluble Mediators in Immunity
Solute Carrier Protein Family: Physiological Functions, Disease Associations, and Therapeutic Potential in Immune-Related Disorders
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Immunology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
- 3Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
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The Solute Carrier Protein Family (SLC) is responsible for the uptake and transport of a variety of substances across the cell membrane. It plays a central role in maintaining the stability of the intracellular environment through participation in metabolic processes and the transport of drugs and toxins. The highly tissue-specific expression of SLC proteins endows them with potential applications in disease treatment and drug development. Transplant immune reactions are a major challenge in the field of organ transplantation, as graft rejection is a key factor determining the success of transplantation and long-term organ survival. SLC proteins are increasingly drawing attention for their roles in modulating immune responses, influencing transplant immune tolerance, and controlling graft rejection. By regulating the metabolism and function of immune cells, SLC proteins affect the formation and tolerance of transplant immune responses. Among them, 7 SLC proteins are "validated targets" with approved or phase III drugs, 9 are "candidate targets" in active clinical trials, and 14 remain "potential targets" supported by genetic and pre-clinical evidence. This article elucidates the functions of SLC proteins in transplant immunology, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, tumor immunology, metabolic diseases, and neurological diseases, as well as the new targets and strategies for treating these diseases that SLC proteins provide.
Keywords: Solute carrier, Transplantation immunity, immune response, transplant rejection, cell metabolism
Received: 01 Aug 2025; Accepted: 18 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Liu, Niu, Jin and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Jiamin Jin, jinjiamin@glmc.edu.cn
Jinfeng Yang, 122019039@glmc.edu.cn
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