Stathmin in human health and diseases: from cytoskeletal dynamics to clinical implications

Stathmin, a highly conserved microtubule-destabilizing protein in eukaryotes, plays a pivotal role in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics by promoting microtubule depolymerization. This process is indispensable for fundamental biological events, including cell division, migration, differentiation, and intracellular signal transduction. This review systematically elucidates stathmin's genomic architecture, molecular functions, and mechanistic contributions under both physiological and pathological contexts. The functional output of stathmin is tightly modulated by post-translational modifications, particularly phosphorylation, as well as its protein expression levels. Aberrant stathmin expression or activity is strongly implicated in tumorigenesis, driving cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Conversely, in non-neoplastic diseases, stathmin orchestrates skin and mucosal repair, maintains neurological function, influences pulmonary fibrosis, modulates metabolic homeostasis, and supports pregnancy maintenance through its cytoskeletal regulatory capacity. Furthermore, this study highlights stathmin's significant potential as a diagnostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target. Finally, we propose future research directions that prioritize deciphering tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms and accelerating the translation of basic scientific discoveries into clinical applications.