Used as a selective inhibitor of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, specifically targeting the IRE1α endoribonuclease. It helps reduce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced signaling, making it a valuable tool in studying cellular stress responses. Commonly applied in research on neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and inflammatory conditions where ER stress plays a role. It has shown potential in sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapy and reducing inflammation in immune-related models. Also used in virology studies, as some viruses exploit the UPR for replication—4μ8C can inhibit such viral propagation.