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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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ABHD2
abhydrolase domain containing 2, acylglycerol lipase
Chromosome 15 · 15q26.1
NCBI Gene: 11057Ensembl: ENSG00000140526.19HGNC: HGNC:18717UniProt: A0A024RC89
26PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
nuclear steroid receptor activitymonoacylglycerol lipase activitydiacylglycerol lipase activityresponse to progesteronecoronary artery diseaseangina pectorismyocardial infarctionstroke
✦AI Summary

ABHD2 is a progesterone-dependent acylglycerol lipase that catalyzes hydrolysis of endocannabinoid arachidonoylglycerol (AG) to glycerol and arachidonic acid 1. The protein functions as a ligand-activated enzyme, with progesterone binding activating its lipase activity against both monoacylglycerols (1AG and 2AG) and additional ester substrates including acetyl, butanoate, and hexadecanoate esters 2. ABHD2 plays a critical role in male fertility through sperm capacitation, wherein progesterone-induced degradation of 2AG—an inhibitor of the calcium channel CatSper—permits calcium influx and sperm activation 1. The acrosome reaction is similarly regulated by ABHD2, as selective inhibitors reduce this progesterone-stimulated process 3. Beyond reproduction, ABHD2 maintains alveolar architecture and regulates airway remodeling in COPD by modulating TGF-β signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition 4. Clinically, ABHD2 is upregulated in multiple cancers (breast, lung, prostate, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cervical cancer) where it promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and resistance to apoptosis through lipid metabolism pathways 5678. ABHD2 expression in prostate cancer correlates with Gleason score and poor prognosis 5. These findings establish ABHD2 as both a reproductive regulator and oncogenic target with therapeutic potential.

Sources cited
1
ABHD2 is a progesterone-dependent acylglycerol lipase that hydrolyzes endocannabinoids 1AG and 2AG, with key role in sperm capacitation via CatSper activation
PMID: 26989199
2
ABHD2 functions as TAG lipase and ester hydrolase with activity against acetyl, butanoate, and palmitate esters
PMID: 27247428
3
ABHD2 inhibitors reduce the progesterone-stimulated acrosome reaction, supporting its role in fertilization
PMID: 31525885
4
ABHD2 regulates airway remodeling in COPD through TGF-β signaling and EMT; downregulation promotes airway thickening and emphysema
PMID: 38197032
5
ABHD2 is an androgen-responsive gene overexpressed in prostate cancer, promoting cell proliferation and migration; correlates with high Gleason score and poor survival
PMID: 26854828
6
TDP-43 upregulates ABHD2 in hepatocellular carcinoma to suppress apoptosis through lipid metabolism and ROS production
PMID: 35963893
7
miR-4454 targets ABHD2 to promote cervical cancer cell invasion and migration in HPV16 E6/E7-positive cells
PMID: 32816024
8
Vaspin promotes triple-negative breast cancer through miR-33a-5p/ABHD2 axis, enhancing proliferation and metastasis
PMID: 36125462
Disease Associationsⓘ20
coronary artery diseaseOpen Targets
0.29Weak
angina pectorisOpen Targets
0.26Weak
myocardial infarctionOpen Targets
0.23Weak
strokeOpen Targets
0.21Weak
occlusion precerebral arteryOpen Targets
0.21Weak
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplastyOpen Targets
0.20Weak
coronary atherosclerosisOpen Targets
0.19Weak
Myocardial IschemiaOpen Targets
0.17Weak
COVID-19Open Targets
0.17Weak
response to antihypertensive drugOpen Targets
0.11Weak
macular degenerationOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
primary ovarian insufficiencyOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
46,XX gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
familial hyperprolactinemiaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
aromatase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
polycystic ovary syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
SPA17Protein interaction83%ABHD1Shared pathway25%ABHD3Shared pathway20%PCSK4Shared pathway15%PGRShared pathway14%BSPH1Shared pathway13%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Liver
100%
Brain
90%
Heart
64%
Lung
41%
Bone Marrow
30%
Ovary
22%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
ABHD2SPA17ABHD1ABHD3PCSK4PGRBSPH1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P08910
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.57Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.55Intermediate
Observed/Expected LoF0.39 [0.28–0.57]
RankingsWhere ABHD2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #12,722of 20,598
    Most Researched26
  • #3,752of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.57 · top quartile
Genes detectedABHD2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Molecular characterization of human ABHD2 as TAG lipase and ester hydrolase.
PMID: 27247428
Biosci Rep · 2016
1.00
2
Elevated mature macrophage expression of human ABHD2 gene in vulnerable plaque.
PMID: 17980156
Biochem Biophys Res Commun · 2008
0.90
3
Abhd2, a Candidate Gene Regulating Airway Remodeling in COPD via TGF-β.
PMID: 38197032
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · 2024
0.80
4
TDP-43 upregulates lipid metabolism modulator ABHD2 to suppress apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
PMID: 35963893
Commun Biol · 2022
0.70
5
ABHD2 Inhibitor Identified by Activity-Based Protein Profiling Reduces Acrosome Reaction.
PMID: 31525885
ACS Chem Biol · 2019
0.60