Abstract

KIAA1217 (SKT) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 10p12.2-p12, primarily implicated in vertebral development and intervertebral disc integrity. Beyond its musculoskeletal role, emerging molecular evidence indicates that KIAA1217 encodes a scaffold protein involved in cytoskeletal regulation, including actin filament dynamics and centrosomal organization. Public transcriptomic datasets demonstrate measurable KIAA1217 expression in human brain regions, including the cerebral cortex and midbrain and single-cell RNA sequencing suggests neuronal cell-type association. Given that actin remodeling underlies dendritic spine morphogenesis and synaptic plasticity, we propose that KIAA1217 may influence neural plasticity through cytoskeletal mechanisms. Although direct functional evidence in neurons remains limited, current molecular and transcriptomic data provide preliminary support for investigating a potential structural-neural interface mediated by KIAA1217.

Keywords:KIAA1217; SKT; Spinal integrity; Actin remodeling; Neuroplasticity; Cytoskeletal proteins; Hypothesis