Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Type 2 (TNFR2), also known as Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily Member 1B (TNFRSF1B) and CD120b, is one of the two primary receptors that bind to Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα). TNFR2 is a membrane receptor that plays a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes, including immune response, inflammation, and tumor progression .
TNFR2 consists of an extracellular region with four cysteine-rich domains that facilitate binding to TNFα. Unlike its counterpart, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Type 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2 lacks a death domain (DD) in its intracellular structure, which results in different signaling pathways and functions when bound to TNFα .
TNFR2 is expressed in various tumor cells and certain immune cells, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). It contributes significantly to the tumor microenvironment by promoting tumor cell growth, activating immunosuppressive cells, and supporting immune escape . TNFR2’s activation mechanism involves recruiting a complex composed of adapter proteins, such as TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and apoptosis-related markers like cIAP1/2 .
The dual role of TNFR2 in promoting both tumor progression and immune regulation makes it a promising target for cancer therapy. Antagonists and agonists targeting TNFR2 have shown significant anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies . These therapeutic agents can either inhibit the immunosuppressive functions of TNFR2 or enhance its ability to stimulate cytotoxic T-cells, thereby providing a multifaceted approach to cancer treatment .
Human recombinant TNFR2 with a His tag is a laboratory-produced version of the receptor, designed for research and therapeutic purposes. The His tag, a sequence of histidine residues, facilitates the purification and detection of the recombinant protein. This recombinant form is used in various studies to understand the receptor’s function, signaling pathways, and potential as a therapeutic target .