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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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WNT2
Wnt family member 2
Chromosome 7 · 7q31.2
NCBI Gene: 7472Ensembl: ENSG00000105989.11HGNC: HGNC:12780UniProt: A0A384MDX3
98PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
cellular response to transforming growth factor beta stimuluspositive regulation of fibroblast proliferationcytokine activityprotein bindingDupuytren Contracturefasciitisfibroblastic disorderPalmar Fibromatosis
✦AI Summary

WNT2 is a secreted glycoprotein ligand that functions in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway by binding to frizzled family receptors and activating transcription factors of the TCF/LEF family. In hepatic physiology, WNT2 is secreted by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and controls cholesterol uptake and bile acid conjugation in hepatocytes through receptor FZD5 1. WNT2 plays critical roles in liver zonation and regeneration, with endothelial cell-derived WNT2 maintaining metabolic zonation by activating β-catenin targets in zone 3 hepatocytes 2. Beyond the liver, WNT2 contributes to cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction by activating β-catenin/NF-κB signaling through cooperation of Fzd4 and LRP6 receptors 3. In pathological conditions, WNT2 promotes skin fibrosis through a mechanosensitive Piezo1-Wnt2-CCL24 positive feedback loop 4. WNT2 expression is upregulated in gastrointestinal cancers, particularly gastric and colorectal cancers, where it may serve as a tumor marker 5. The protein also facilitates hepatocyte-sinusoid crosstalk in liver organoids, promoting hepatocyte differentiation and endothelial network formation 6. Therapeutically, WNT2 shows promise for treating acute liver failure and drug-induced liver injury through promotion of hepatocyte regeneration 7.

Sources cited
1
WNT2 secreted by sinusoidal endothelial cells controls cholesterol uptake and bile acid conjugation in hepatocytes through receptor FZD5
PMID: 37562401
2
Endothelial cell-derived WNT2 maintains liver zonation by activating β-catenin targets in zone 3 hepatocytes and promotes liver regeneration
PMID: 36220068
3
WNT2 promotes cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction by activating β-catenin/NF-κB signaling through cooperation of Fzd4 and LRP6 receptors
PMID: 34911029
4
WNT2 promotes skin fibrosis through a mechanosensitive Piezo1-Wnt2-CCL24 positive feedback loop
PMID: 38267432
5
WNT2 expression is upregulated in gastrointestinal cancers and may serve as a tumor marker for gastric and colorectal cancers
PMID: 14533014
6
WNT2 mediates sinusoidal-to-hepatic intercellular crosstalk, promoting hepatocyte differentiation and endothelial network formation
PMID: 39005378
7
WNT2 shows therapeutic promise for treating acute liver failure and drug-induced liver injury through promotion of hepatocyte regeneration
PMID: 40120577
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Dupuytren ContractureOpen Targets
0.44Moderate
fasciitisOpen Targets
0.39Weak
fibroblastic disorderOpen Targets
0.35Weak
Palmar FibromatosisOpen Targets
0.35Weak
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.33Weak
Peyronie diseaseOpen Targets
0.33Weak
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
lysosomal storage diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
multiple sclerosisOpen Targets
0.32Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.32Weak
coronary atherosclerosisOpen Targets
0.32Weak
uterine fibroidOpen Targets
0.28Weak
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOpen Targets
0.25Weak
male reproductive system diseaseOpen Targets
0.21Weak
Uterine leiomyomaOpen Targets
0.19Weak
response to xenobiotic stimulusOpen Targets
0.17Weak
inflammatory bowel diseaseOpen Targets
0.16Weak
exostosisOpen Targets
0.16Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
PTK7Protein interaction98%PORCNProtein interaction95%NOTUMProtein interaction94%FZD2Protein interaction93%LRP6Protein interaction93%LRP5Protein interaction93%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
100%
Heart
7%
Liver
5%
Brain
4%
Ovary
1%
Bone Marrow
1%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
WNT2PTK7PORCNNOTUMFZD2LRP6LRP5
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P09544
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.51Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.97Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.32 [0.20–0.51]
RankingsWhere WNT2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #4,914of 20,598
    Most Researched98 · top quartile
  • #3,116of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.51 · top quartile
Genes detectedWNT2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Humanized mouse liver reveals endothelial control of essential hepatic metabolic functions.
PMID: 37562401
Cell · 2023
1.00
2
WNT2 and human gastrointestinal cancer (review).
PMID: 14533014
Int J Mol Med · 2003
0.90
3
Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dynamic control of metabolic zonation and liver regeneration by endothelial cell Wnt2 and Wnt9b.
PMID: 36220068
Cell Rep Med · 2022
0.80
4
Mechanical stiffness promotes skin fibrosis via Piezo1-Wnt2/Wnt11-CCL24 positive feedback loop.
PMID: 38267432
Cell Death Dis · 2024
0.70
5
Single-cell analysis of mouse and human prostate reveals novel fibroblasts with specialized distribution and microenvironment interactions.
PMID: 34173975
J Pathol · 2021
0.60