The membrane-spanning 4A (MS4A) family includes 18 members with a tetraspan structure in humans. They are differentially and selectively expressed in immunocompetent cells, such as B cells (CD20/MS4A1) and macrophages (MS4A4A), and associate with, and modulate the signaling activity of, different classes of immunoreceptor, including pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and Ig receptors. Evidence from preclinical models and genetic evidence from humans suggest that members of the MS4A family have key roles in different pathological settings, including cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegeneration. Therefore, MS4A family members might serve as candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various conditions.

跨膜 4A (MS4A) 家族包括 18 个具有人类四跨结构的成员。它们在免疫活性细胞（如 B 细胞 (CD20/MS4A1) 和巨噬细胞 (MS4A4A)）中差异和选择性地表达，并与不同类型的免疫受体（包括模式识别受体 (PRR) 和 Ig）相关并调节其信号传导活性受体。来自临床前模型的证据和来自人类的遗传证据表明，MS4A 家族的成员在不同的病理环境中发挥着关键作用，包括癌症、传染病和神经退行性疾病。因此，MS4A 家族成员可作为各种条件的候选生物标志物和治疗靶点。