WFDC2
Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 - also known as Human Epididymis Protein 4[5] (HE4) - is a protein that in humans is encoded by the WFDC2 gene.[6][7][8]
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| Aliases | WFDC2, EDDM4, HE4, WAP5, dJ461P17.6, WAP four-disulfide core domain 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| External IDs | OMIM: 617548; MGI: 1914951; HomoloGene: 4450; GeneCards: WFDC2; OMA:WFDC2 - orthologs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HE4 is a tumor marker of ovarian cancer, with 80% sensitivity and 99% specificity at a cut-off of 150 pmol/L.[9]
Function
This gene encodes a protein that is a member of the WFDC domain family. The WFDC domain, or WAP Signature motif, contains eight cysteines forming four disulfide bonds at the core of the protein, and functions as a protease inhibitor in many family members. This gene is expressed in pulmonary epithelial cells among other tissues, and was also found to be expressed in some ovarian cancers.[5] The encoded protein is a small secretory protein, which may be involved in sperm maturation.[8]
