Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2), also known as HAG-2 or Gob-4, is the human orthologue of the Xenopus laevis AGR protein XAG-2. In the frog embryo, XAG-2 is involved in cement gland differentiation and neural marker expression. However, the function of AGR2 in humans is unclear. AGR2 was first identified in studies focused on differentiating genes in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers and is predominately expressed in tissues that contain mucus-secreting cells and/or function as endocrine organs. Strong AGR2 mRNA expression was found in normal human colon, stomach, rectum, prostate and breast. AGR2 has been shown to be co-expressed with ER in breast cancer cell lines and overexpression was found to attenuate p53 activation in UV-damaged cells. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated cytoplasmic AGR2 staining in 65-83% of breast cancers. Positive staining for AGR2 in ER-positive breast cancers was significantly associated with poorer patient survival. Subsequent studies have als

Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2) [EP329]

Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2), also known as HAG-2 or Gob-4, is the human orthologue of the Xenopus laevis AGR protein XAG-2. In the frog embryo, XAG-2 is involved in cement gland differentiation and neural marker expression. However, the function of AGR2 in humans is unclear. AGR2 was first identified in studies focused on differentiating genes in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers and is predominately expressed in tissues that contain mucus-secreting cells and/or function as endocrine organs. Strong AGR2 mRNA expression was found in normal human colon, stomach, rectum, prostate and breast. AGR2 has been shown to be co-expressed with ER in breast cancer cell lines and overexpression was found to attenuate p53 activation in UV-damaged cells. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated cytoplasmic AGR2 staining in 65-83% of breast cancers. Positive staining for AGR2 in ER-positive breast cancers was significantly associated with poorer patient survival. Subsequent studies have also shown elevated AGR2 expression in adenocarcinomas of the esophagus, pancreas, and prostate. ARG2 expression was also highly expressed in Barrett's esophagus, a premalignant lesion characterized by intestinal metaplasia compared with normal esophageal epithelium.

Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2) [EP329]