Xiaojing Zhang, Leiliang Zhang
Discussed the emerging roles of TMED proteins (transmembrane emp24 domain-containing) in viral infection and innate immune control, including TMED10 in unconventional secretion of pro‑inflammatory factors and the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike protein, and its involvement in vaccinia virus entry and immune evasion by murine cytomegalovirus. Recent evidence also points to TMED9 as a modulator of RNA virus replication, and TMED2 potentiating the MITA/STING pathway and contributing to Toll‑like receptor trafficking. The TMED family is emerging as a potential hub for therapeutic intervention against viral infections and inflammatory pathologies.
The TMED proteins (transmembrane emp24 domain-containing) serve as essential regulators of the early secretory pathway and intracellular protein transport. This review focuses on their emerging roles in viral infection and innate immune control. We discuss how TMED10 mediates unconventional secretion of pro‑inflammatory factors and the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike protein, and highlight its involvement in vaccinia virus entry and in an immune evasion mechanism used by murine cytomegalovirus. Recent evidence also points to TMED9 as a modulator of RNA virus replication. At the level of innate immunity, TMED2 potentiates the MITA/STING pathway, while TMED2 and TMED7 contribute to Toll‑like receptor trafficking. Together, these observations point to the TMED family as a potential hub for therapeutic intervention against viral infections and inflammatory pathologies.