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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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HAS2
hyaluronan synthase 2
Chromosome 8 · 8q24.13
NCBI Gene: 3037Ensembl: ENSG00000170961.7HGNC: HGNC:4819UniProt: Q92819
114PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingidentical protein bindinghyaluronan synthase activitypositive regulation of cell population proliferationAbnormality of the skeletal systemretinopathyprostate carcinomaEpiretinal membrane
✦AI Summary

HAS2 (hyaluronan synthase 2) catalyzes the addition of GlcNAc or GlcUA monosaccharides to synthesize hyaluronan (HA), a major extracellular matrix component essential for tissue architecture, cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation 12. As one of three hyaluronan-synthesizing isoenzymes, HAS2 is particularly responsible for high molecular mass HA synthesis. HAS2 expression is regulated by multiple pathways: PDGF-BB stimulation upregulates HAS2 via ATF6 transcriptional activation in orbital fibroblasts 3, while METTL3-mediated m6A modification destabilizes HAS2 mRNA 3. ZEB1, an EMT-inducing transcription factor, upregulates HAS2 alongside ITIH2 to remodel the HA network and enhance cancer cell motility and invasion 4. In disease contexts, elevated HAS2 expression promotes malignancy across multiple cancers. Myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts express HAS2 to promote intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression 5. HAS2 overexpression drives inflammatory responses and abnormal folliculogenesis in polycystic ovary syndrome, which can be reversed by berberine-mediated HAS2 downregulation 6. In colorectal cancer liver metastasis within steatotic liver, HAS2-derived HA activates YAP in cancer cells, creating a bidirectional CAF-tumor feedback loop that suppresses anti-tumor immunity 7. Clinically, HAS2 represents a targetable therapeutic pathway in cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Sources cited
1
HAS2 catalyzes addition of GlcNAc/GlcUA monosaccharides and is essential for hyaluronan synthesis
PMID: 20507985
2
HAS2 catalyzes hyaluronan synthesis with structural and regulatory roles in tissues
PMID: 21228273
3
Myofibroblastic CAF-expressed HAS2 promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression
PMID: 33930309
4
HAS2 expression correlates with inflammatory responses in PCOS; berberine reduces inflammation by downregulating HAS2
PMID: 38537446
5
PDGF-BB upregulates HAS2 via ATF6; METTL3 destabilizes HAS2 mRNA through m6A modification
PMID: 40632442
6
ZEB1 transcriptionally upregulates HAS2 alongside ITIH2 to enhance HA network formation and cancer cell motility/invasion
PMID: 40178908
7
HAS2-derived HA in steatotic liver activates YAP in cancer cells and creates CAF-tumor feedback loop promoting metastasis
PMID: 39946200
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.51Moderate
retinopathyOpen Targets
0.35Weak
prostate carcinomaOpen Targets
0.34Weak
Epiretinal membraneOpen Targets
0.33Weak
androgenetic alopeciaOpen Targets
0.32Weak
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.32Weak
diverticular diseaseOpen Targets
0.31Weak
open-angle glaucomaOpen Targets
0.21Weak
cervical carcinomaOpen Targets
0.21Weak
asthmaOpen Targets
0.21Weak
injuryOpen Targets
0.20Weak
bone remodeling diseaseOpen Targets
0.19Weak
strictureOpen Targets
0.18Weak
pleural empyemaOpen Targets
0.17Weak
pneumothoraxOpen Targets
0.17Weak
gallbladder diseaseOpen Targets
0.12Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
gliomaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
CD44Protein interaction95%UGDHProtein interaction84%HYAL1Protein interaction83%ACANProtein interaction80%TNFAIP6Protein interaction80%SPAM1Protein interaction79%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Lung
68%
Bone Marrow
18%
Liver
7%
Brain
6%
Ovary
6%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
HAS2CD44UGDHHYAL1ACANTNFAIP6SPAM1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q92819
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.43Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.27 [0.17–0.43]
RankingsWhere HAS2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #4,149of 20,598
    Most Researched114 · top quartile
  • #2,313of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.43 · top quartile
Genes detectedHAS2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Promotion of cholangiocarcinoma growth by diverse cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations.
PMID: 33930309
Cancer Cell · 2021
1.00
2
Berberine alleviates inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibiting hyaluronan synthase 2 expression.
PMID: 38537446
Phytomedicine · 2024
0.90
3
Unravelling the role of HAS2, GREM1, and PTGS2 gene expression in cumulus cells: implications for human oocyte development competency - a systematic review and integrated bioinformatic analysis.
PMID: 38524634
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2024
0.80
4
HAS2 and CD44 in breast tumorigenesis.
PMID: 25081531
Adv Cancer Res · 2014
0.70
5
Human nasal turbinate stem cells with specific gene signatures (HAS2, CXCL1, KRTAP1-5, GSTT2B, and C4B) attenuate rheumatoid arthritis.
PMID: 39987230
Sci Rep · 2025
0.60