The Emerging Role of Filamin A and FLNA Gene in Central Nervous System Functions: Insights into Neurodevelopment and Disease.

Filamin A (FLNA) is a key protein that binds actin filaments to transmembrane integrins and plays an important role in maintaining cell shape and signaling. In the brain, FLNA is emerging as a critical regulator of neurodevelopment, neuronal migration, actin organization, and neuromodulation. Mutations and/or aberrant expression of the FLNA gene are associated with various brain diseases, such as periventricular heterotopia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and other disorders with impaired cognitive function and brain maldevelopment. Here, we discuss the critical role of FLNA in brain function; its interactions with receptors, integrins, and signaling molecules, as well as the implications of its activity for brain health and disease.