UL16 Binding Brotein 2 (ULBP2)

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) frequently infects young people and persists for the lifetime of the individual in a latent state, due in part to downregulation of major histocompatibility (MHC) class I expression and evasion of T cell-mediated immunity, with occasional asymptomatic episodes of viral shedding. ULBP2 has a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage to the membrane. Enzymatic analysis confirmed that the ULBPs are indeed GPI-linked at the cell surface. RT-PCR analysis detected ULBP expression in T, B, and erythroleukemia cell lines and in a wide range of tissues; ULBP2, however, was not detected in the Namalwa Burkitt lymphoma cell line. Expression was upregulated in colon and stomach tumors and downregulated in kidney tumors. FACS analysis demonstrated that protein expression generally correlated with message expression.