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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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WFIKKN2
WAP, follistatin/kazal, immunoglobulin, kunitz and netrin domain containing 2
Chromosome 17 · 17q21.33
NCBI Gene: 124857Ensembl: ENSG00000173714.8HGNC: HGNC:30916UniProt: C9J6G4
16PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
negative regulation of transforming growth factor beta receptor signaling pathwayGO:0005615protein bindingreceptor antagonist activityosteoarthritis, hiptotal joint arthroplastyosteoarthritis, kneetotal hip arthroplasty
✦AI Summary

WFIKKN2 is a multidomain extracellular protein that functions as a selective antagonist of myostatin (GDF8) and GDF11 signaling. The protein comprises WAP, follistatin, immunoglobulin, two Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, and netrin domains 1. The follistatin domain primarily mediates binding to mature GDF8/GDF11, while the netrin domain contributes significantly to propeptide interactions 2. WFIKKN2 inhibits GDF8 and GDF11 biological activity in the nanomolar range by blocking type II receptor activation 3, though it binds but does not inhibit TGFβ1, BMP2, and BMP4, suggesting selective modulatory roles 4. In musculoskeletal tissues, WFIKKN2 functions as a "companion" protein regulating localized TGFB presentation and signaling balance 5. Clinical evidence indicates WFIKKN2 expression is sex-dimorphic in pancreatic cancer cachexia, with higher expression in women correlating with reduced muscle wasting, suggesting protective roles in cancer-related myopathy 6. Circulating WFIKKN2 levels do not independently predict grip strength decline in older adults 7. WFIKKN2 expression varies genetically across species, indicating potential associations with growth and muscle traits 8.

Sources cited
1
WFIKKN2 structure composition and binding to GDF8/GDF11 with follistatin domain responsible for mature growth factor binding
PMID: 18596030
2
WFIKKN2 domains mediating GDF8/GDF11 interactions, particularly follistatin and NTR domains
PMID: 21936825
3
WFIKKN2 follistatin domain structure and mechanism of blocking type II receptor activation for GDF8/GDF11 antagonism
PMID: 30814254
4
WFIKKN2 binds but does not inhibit TGFβ1, BMP2, and BMP4; selective antagonism of GDF8/GDF11
PMID: 21054789
5
WFIKKN2 functions as companion protein for TGFB activity regulation in multiple tissues
PMID: 27325460
6
WFIKKN2 expression is sex-dimorphic in pancreatic cancer cachexia with higher female expression correlating with reduced muscle wasting
PMID: 35510530
7
Circulating WFIKKN2 does not independently predict grip strength decline in older adults
PMID: 37235639
8
WFIKKN2 gene shows genetic polymorphism across species relevant to muscle growth traits
PMID: 24704001
Disease Associationsⓘ20
osteoarthritis, hipOpen Targets
0.43Moderate
osteoarthritis, kneeOpen Targets
0.31Weak
total joint arthroplastyOpen Targets
0.31Weak
total hip arthroplastyOpen Targets
0.31Weak
bone remodeling diseaseOpen Targets
0.25Weak
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.16Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
benign prostatic hyperplasiaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
follicular thyroid adenomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
follicular thyroid carcinomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
prostate cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
spinal muscular atrophy, facioscapulohumeral typeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
congenital diaphragmatic herniaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
diaphragmatic hernia 3Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
papillary carcinomaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
ocular hypotensionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
thyroid cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
MSTNProtein interaction85%GDF11Protein interaction85%FSTProtein interaction85%NTSR1Protein interaction85%WFIKKN1Shared pathway80%LRRC32Shared pathway67%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Brain
1%
Heart
1%
Lung
0%
Liver
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
WFIKKN2MSTNGDF11FSTNTSR1WFIKKN1LRRC32
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q8TEU8
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.84LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.60 [0.44–0.84]
RankingsWhere WFIKKN2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #15,441of 20,598
    Most Researched16
  • #7,234of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.84
Genes detectedWFIKKN2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
WFIKKN1 and WFIKKN2: "Companion" proteins regulating TGFB activity.
PMID: 27325460
Cytokine Growth Factor Rev · 2016
1.00
2
Both WFIKKN1 and WFIKKN2 have high affinity for growth and differentiation factors 8 and 11.
PMID: 18596030
J Biol Chem · 2008
0.90
3
Biological functions of the WAP domain-containing multidomain proteins WFIKKN1 and WFIKKN2.
PMID: 21936825
Biochem Soc Trans · 2011
0.80
4
WFIKKN1 and WFIKKN2 bind growth factors TGFβ1, BMP2 and BMP4 but do not inhibit their signalling activity.
PMID: 21054789
FEBS J · 2010
0.70
5
Sex specificity of pancreatic cancer cachexia phenotypes, mechanisms, and treatment in mice and humans: role of Activin.
PMID: 35510530
J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle · 2022
0.60