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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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ULBP2
UL16 binding protein 2
Chromosome 6 · 6q25.1
NCBI Gene: 80328Ensembl: ENSG00000131015.6HGNC: HGNC:14894UniProt: Q9BZM5
87PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingGPI anchor bindingnatural killer cell lectin-like receptor bindingreceptor ligand activityneoplasmbreast cancerpachyonychia congenitagastric cancer
✦AI Summary

ULBP2 (UL16 binding protein 2) is a surface-expressed ligand that binds and activates the NKG2D receptor on natural killer cells, mediating NK cell-dependent cytotoxicity 1. However, ULBP2 has emerged as a paradoxical immune regulator in cancer: tumor-expressed surface ULBP2 suppresses NKG2D-mediated anti-tumor immunity through sustained exposure that reduces NKG2D expression and NK cell cytotoxic activity 1. In gastric cancer, ULBP2 overexpression activates TGF-β signaling to promote cancer-associated fibroblast activation and tumor progression 2. ULBP2 upregulation is associated with poor prognosis across multiple malignancies including cervical, colon, and breast cancers 3, 4, 5. METTL3-mediated m6A methylation regulates ULBP2 expression and affects cervical cancer radioresistance 3. Therapeutically, ULBP2-targeted CAR-T cells effectively eliminate gastric cancer cells in preclinical models and enhance immunotherapy efficacy 2, while ULBP2-targeted trispecific T cell engagers with integrated CD2 costimulation demonstrate superior tumor-killing efficacy 6. Interestingly, a non-linear association between ULBP2 and venous thromboembolism was identified through proteome-wide association studies 7.

Sources cited
1
Surface-expressed ULBP2 suppresses NKG2D-dependent immune responses and promotes tumor growth through immune evasion
PMID: 40243581
2
ULBP2 activates TGF-β signaling to promote CAF activation and tumor progression in gastric cancer; ULBP2 CAR-T cells enhance immunotherapy efficacy
PMID: 40775202
3
ULBP2 is upregulated in cervical cancer; METTL3-mediated m6A methylation regulates ULBP2 expression and affects radioresistance
PMID: 40640957
4
ULBP2 is associated with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in colon cancer and serves as independent predictor of overall survival
PMID: 36633827
5
ULBP2 identified as key NK cell-related gene for breast cancer diagnosis and prognostication using machine learning models
PMID: 40496857
6
ULBP2-targeted trispecific T cell engagers with integrated CD2 costimulation demonstrate superior tumor-killing efficacy in vivo
PMID: 41252152
7
ULBP2 exhibits non-linear association with venous thromboembolism identified through proteome-wide association studies
PMID: 40664692
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
pachyonychia congenitaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
gastric cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
colorectal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
ovarian cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
infectionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Miyoshi myopathyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
chronic myelogenous leukemiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
cervical squamous intraepithelial neoplasiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
cervical cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
endometriosisOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
KLRD1Protein interaction100%ULBP3Protein interaction94%ULBP1Protein interaction94%MICBProtein interaction91%PVRProtein interaction91%NECTIN2Protein interaction91%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
75%
Heart
33%
Brain
20%
Liver
8%
Ovary
2%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
ULBP2KLRD1ULBP3ULBP1MICBPVRNECTIN2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8IMX · 2.85 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.41LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.98 [0.70–1.41]
RankingsWhere ULBP2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,523of 20,598
    Most Researched87
  • #14,603of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.41
Genes detectedULBP2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
ULBP2 CAR-T cells enhance gastric cancer immunotherapy by inhibiting CAF activation.
PMID: 40775202
Cell Death Dis · 2025
1.00
2
Linear and non-linear proteome-wide association studies provide novel insight into venous thromboembolism.
PMID: 40664692
Nat Commun · 2025
0.90
3
ULBP2 Promotes Tumor Progression by Suppressing NKG2D-Mediated Anti-Tumor Immunity.
PMID: 40243581
Int J Mol Sci · 2025
0.80
4
Machine learning-based diagnostic and prognostic models for breast cancer: a new frontier on the clinical application of natural killer cell-related gene signatures in precision medicine.
PMID: 40496857
Front Immunol · 2025
0.70
5
METTL3 mediates m6A methylation modification of ULBP2 and affects the progression of cervical cancer.
PMID: 40640957
Hereditas · 2025
0.60