LAPTM proteins in neurological disorders – Autophagy–lysosome dysfunction and therapeutic targets: A review

Lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane (LAPTM) family members-LAPTM4A, LAPTM4B, and LAPTM5-regulate lysosomal integrity, autophagy-lysosome flux, lipid homeostasis, and immune signaling, pathways increasingly implicated in neurological disease. This review synthesizes structure-function evidence for LAPTM proteins and examines how their dysregulation contributes to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and gliomas. Based on a targeted narrative analysis of primary and translational studies, we highlight that LAPTM proteins influence lysosomal acidification and membrane stability, endolysosomal trafficking, and ceramide/ion handling, thereby shaping protein aggregate clearance, oxidative stress responses, and microglia/macrophage polarization. Preclinical data link LAPTM5 to stroke outcomes via stress-kinase and lysosomal pathways, while LAPTM4A and LAPTM4B associate with glioma progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. Overall, LAPTM proteins represent promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets, warranting cell-type-resolved validation and central nervous system (CNS)-optimized delivery strategies, including gene therapy, small-molecule/degrader approaches, and multi-omics-guided patient stratification.