Luzp2, or leucine zipper protein 2, is a gene normally expressed only in the brain and spinal cord [4]. Its specific functions and associated pathways are still being explored, but studies suggest it may be involved in nervous system development and extracellular matrix development [2]. Genetic models, such as gene knockout mouse models, have been used to study its role.

In a Luzp2 knockout mouse model, the loss of Luzp2 did not cause changes in auditory threshold, hair cell or synapse number, or hair cell stereocilia morphology, indicating that Luzp2 is not essential for hearing [1]. In low-grade glioma (LGG), LUZP2 expression was downregulated with increasing tumor grade, and low LUZP2 expression independently predicted poor overall survival, suggesting it could be an important biomarker for LGG [2]. A pan-cancer analysis showed that LUZP2 mRNA expression was upregulated in some cancers like LGG, PRAD, LUSC and downregulated in others like KIRC, and its low-expression was associated with poor prognosis in several cancer types [3]. In prostate cancer, LUZP2 was found to be an independent risk factor, and its expression was related to immune infiltration and epigenetic regulation [5].

In conclusion, Luzp2 plays important roles in various biological processes and diseases. Gene knockout mouse models have provided insights into its non-essential role in hearing, while studies in cancer have revealed its potential as a biomarker and its association with prognosis and immune-related processes in different cancer types. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the biological functions of Luzp2 and its implications in disease.

References:

1. Cheng, Cheng, Zhu, Guangjie, Wang, Kaijian, Yu, Chenjie, Gao, Xia. 2024. Deletion of Luzp2 Does Not Cause Hearing Loss in Mice. In Neuroscience bulletin, 40, 1519-1528. doi:10.1007/s12264-024-01202-5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38589712/

2. Li, Yong, Deng, Gang, Qi, Yangzhi, Liu, Baohui, Chen, Qianxue. 2020. Downregulation of LUZP2 Is Correlated with Poor Prognosis of Low-Grade Glioma. In BioMed research international, 2020, 9716720. doi:10.1155/2020/9716720. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32695826/

3. Feng, Dechao, Shi, Xu, Zhu, Weizhen, Wei, Qiang, Yang, Lu. 2022. A pan-cancer analysis of the oncogenic role of leucine zipper protein 2 in human cancer. In Experimental hematology & oncology, 11, 55. doi:10.1186/s40164-022-00313-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36109820/

4. Wu, Min, Michaud, Edward J, Johnson, Dabney K. . Cloning, functional study and comparative mapping of Luzp2 to mouse chromosome 7 and human chromosome 11p13-11p14. In Mammalian genome : official journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society, 14, 323-34. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12856284/

5. Feng, Dechao, Zhu, Weizhen, Shi, Xu, Wei, Qiang, Yang, Lu. 2022. Leucine zipper protein 2 serves as a prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer correlating with immune infiltration and epigenetic regulation. In Heliyon, 8, e10750. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10750. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36217461/