HIC ZBTB transcriptional repressor 2 (HIC2)

HIC ZBTB transcriptional repressor 2 (HIC2) is a zinc finger and BTB domain-containing transcription factor that acts primarily as a transcriptional repressor, modulating gene expression by binding to specific DNA regions and regulating RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription[1][3][7][8]. HIC2 is essential for embryonic development, particularly in cardiac maturation, where it controls gene expression switches for contractile and oxygen-carrying machinery in cardiomyocytes[2][4]. Germline deletion or dysregulation of HIC2 can lead to cardiac developmental defects, and reduced HIC2 function is linked to susceptibility to congenital heart diseases seen in 22q11 deletion syndromes[4]. In oncology, HIC2 is often found to be hypermethylated and silenced in various cancers, functioning as a downstream target of several oncogenic microRNAs; its loss contributes to cancer progression and chemoresistance (e.g., in bladder cancer and head and neck cancer via miR-193a-3p interaction)[2]. Its expression or methylation status can serve as a biomarker in some tumors. Currently, HIC2 is not known to be a direct therapeutic target, and there are no drugs approved or in clinical stages specifically targeting HIC2.

Other names

Hypermethylated in cancer 2 proteinHIC2Hic-2Hic-3HRG22KIAA1020ZBTB30ZNF907HIC1-related gene on chromosome 22 protein