Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1B (TNFRSF1B) and CD120b, is one of two membrane receptors that binds tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα).[5][6] Like its counterpart, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), the extracellular region of TNFR2 consists of four cysteine-rich domains which allow for binding to TNFα.[7][8] TNFR1 and TNFR2 possess different functions when bound to TNFα due to differences in their intracellular structures, such as TNFR2 lacking a death domain (DD).[7]
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, which also contains TNFRSF1A. This protein and TNF-receptor 1 form a heterocomplex that mediates the recruitment of two anti-apoptotic proteins, c-IAP1 and c-IAP2, which possess E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. The function of IAPs in TNF-receptor signalling is unknown, however, c-IAP1 is thought to potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis by the ubiquitination and degradation of TNF-receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), which mediates anti-apoptotic signals. Knockout studies in mice also suggest a role of this protein in protecting neurons from apoptosis by stimulating antioxidative pathways.[9]
Targeting of TNRF2 in tumor cells is associated with increased tumor cell death and decreased progression of tumor cell growth.[8]
Increased expression of TNFR2 is found in breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, and renal cancer.[8] A link between the expression of TNRF2 in tumor cells and late-stage cancer has been discovered.[8] TNFR2 plays a significant role in tumor cell growth as it has been found that the loss of TNFR2 expression is linked with increased death of associated tumor cells and a significant standstill of further growth.[8] There is therapeutic potential in the targeting of TNFR2 for cancer treatments through TNFR2 inhibition.[12]
A small scale study of 289 Japanese patients suggested a minor increased predisposition from an amino acid substitution of the 196 allele at exon 6. Genomic testing of 81 SLE patients and 207 healthy patients in a Japanese study showed 37% of SLE patients had a polymorphism on position 196 of exon 6 compared to 18.8% of healthy patients. The TNFR2 196R allele polymorphism suggests that even one 196R allele results in increased risk for SLE.[13]
^Medler J, Wajant H (April 2019). "Tumor necrosis factor receptor-2 (TNFR2): an overview of an emerging drug target". Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets. 23 (4): 295–307. doi:10.1080/14728222.2019.1586886. PMID30856027. S2CID75139844.
^Komata T, Tsuchiya N, Matsushita M, Hagiwara K, Tokunaga K (June 1999). "Association of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) polymorphism with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus". Tissue Antigens. 53 (6): 527–533. doi:10.1034/j.1399-0039.1999.530602.x. PMID10395102.
^Bouwmeester T, Bauch A, Ruffner H, Angrand PO, Bergamini G, Croughton K, et al. (February 2004). "A physical and functional map of the human TNF-alpha/NF-kappa B signal transduction pathway". Nature Cell Biology. 6 (2): 97–105. doi:10.1038/ncb1086. PMID14743216. S2CID11683986.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: overridden setting (link)
^Carpentier I, Coornaert B, Beyaert R (October 2008). "Smurf2 is a TRAF2 binding protein that triggers TNF-R2 ubiquitination and TNF-R2-induced JNK activation". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 374 (4): 752–757. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.07.103. PMID18671942.
Kollias G, Kontoyiannis D (2003). "Role of TNF/TNFR in autoimmunity: specific TNF receptor blockade may be advantageous to anti-TNF treatments". Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. 13 (4–5): 315–321. doi:10.1016/S1359-6101(02)00019-9. PMID12220546.
Holtmann MH, Schuchmann M, Zeller G, Galle PR, Neurath MF (2003). "The emerging distinct role of TNF-receptor 2 (p80) signaling in chronic inflammatory disorders". Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis. 50 (4): 279–288. PMID12371624.