Clinical Significance

ST2 is called growth stimulating expression gene 2 in English and soluble growth stimulating expression gene 2 in Chinese. It is located on chromosome 2 2q11.2. ST2 contains 328 amino acids with 3 immunoglobulin domains and 9 glycosylation sites. ST2 can be expressed in the heart, lung, kidney and small intestine, as well as in lymphocytes, mast cells and various endothelial cells.
ST2 is divided into two subtypes, transmembrane ligand ST2L (ST2L) and soluble ST2 (sST2), which, as a member of the interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1) family, is receptors for IL-33. IL-33 acts as a danger signal or alarm, signaling tissue damage to local immune cells following exposure to pathogens, injury-induced stress, or necrosis. The IL-33/ST2L signaling pathway leads to the transcription of inflammatory genes, ultimately leading to the production of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and the induction of immune responses. sST2 can bind to IL-33 as a decoy receptor of IL-33 and inhibit IL-33/ST2L signal transduction, thereby attenuating the systemic biological effects of IL-33. Therefore, the presence of excess sST2 may render the myocardium insufficiently protected from injury, leading to myocardial remodeling and dysfunction. Therefore, it can be considered that ST2L is beneficial to the body, while sST2 is harmful to the body.

Product Information