BTN2A2

BTN2A2 is a widely expressed butyrophilin found on dendritic cells, monocytes, B cells and several epithelial tissues. Functionally it stands out among family members as a T cell co-inhibitory ligand: engagement of BTN2A2 dampens TCR-driven proliferation, cytokine production and cytotoxicity, acting through a receptor system that is not yet fully defined. Its gene lies adjacent to BTN2A1 in the butyrophilin locus, and the encoded protein carries two extracellular Ig-like domains followed by a B30.2-like intracellular region. Because of this suppressive activity, BTN2A2 is being evaluated as an immune checkpoint target in cancer immunotherapy.