MINI REVIEW article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics
This article is part of the Research TopicPrecision Targeting in Cancer: Biomarker Discovery, AI-Guided Diagnostics, and Translational TherapeuticsView all articles
Layilin: A Multifunctional Hyaluronan Receptor in Physiology and Pathology
Provisionally accepted
- 1Zhejiang Academy of Science & Technology for Inspection & Quarantine, Hangzhou, China
- 2Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, United States
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Layilin (encoded by LAYN), a C-type lectin transmembrane receptor, serves as a critical molecular bridge between extracellular matrix (ECM) sensing and intracellular signaling through its interaction with cytoskeletal adaptors. Initially identified for its cytoskeletal functions, layilin has since emerged as a pleiotropic modulator of both physiological homeostasis and pathological disease. Elevated expression of layilin is associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancers, thereby highlighting its oncogenic potential. Beyond cancer, it plays a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis, fibrotic progression, and chronic inflammatory diseases. This review comprehensively synthesizes the structural features, expression dynamics, and disease mechanisms of layilin, emphasizing its biological functions. Key knowledge gaps persist, particularly in understanding its spatiotemporal regulation and crosstalk with immune checkpoints. Future research should prioritize cell-type-specific mechanistic studies using advanced experimental models and layilin-targeted immunotherapies. These efforts will pave the way for precise interventions in diseases driven by the dysregulation of layilin-dependent ECM.
Keywords: Layilin, LAYN, Extracellular Matrix, hyaluronan receptor, Therapeutic target
Received: 09 Oct 2025; Accepted: 11 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Jin and Zong. 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: Yunfeng Zong, zong@musc.edu
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