Wnt family member 2 (WNT2)

Wnt family member 2 (WNT2) is a secreted, lipid-modified glycoprotein that acts as a ligand for the Wnt signaling pathway. It plays a fundamental regulatory role in embryonic development, cell fate specification, cell proliferation, and tissue homeostasis. WNT2 is a member of the Wnt family of proteins, highly conserved across species, which interact primarily with Frizzled and LRP5/6 receptors to activate intracellular signaling cascades including the canonical (β-catenin-dependent) pathway and multiple non-canonical pathways. Aberrant activation or overexpression of WNT2 has been implicated in oncogenesis and progression of several types of cancer, among other pathologies. Therapeutic targeting is currently indirect, focusing on upstream modulators of Wnt ligand production and secretion[1][2][3].

Other names

Protein Wnt-2WNT2INT1L1IRPInt-1-like protein 1Int-1-related proteinsecreted growth factorepididymis secretory sperm binding proteinwingless-type MMTV integration site family member 2

WNT2 functions as a ligand in the Wnt signaling pathway, binding to Frizzled (FZD) and LRP5/6 co-receptors to initiate β-catenin-dependent (canonical) and β-catenin-independent (non-canonical) signaling, modulating gene transcription[2][3]. Drugs targeting upstream (Porcupine, PORCN) prevent WNT2 lipidation and secretion, thus inhibiting WNT2 activity[3].