Glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) is a member of the glutathione peroxidase family, a group of selenium-dependent enzymes that protect cells from oxidative damage by catalyzing the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides using glutathione as a reducing agent. GPX2 is primarily expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and other epithelial tissues, where it plays a critical role in maintaining redox homeostasis and mitigating oxidative stress-induced cellular damage. Its expression is regulated by the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, which is activated under oxidative or electrophilic stress conditions.
Antibodies targeting GPX2 are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and function in both physiological and pathological contexts. They are widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) to investigate GPX2's role in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. In cancer research, GPX2 has drawn attention due to its dual role: while it may suppress tumor initiation by reducing oxidative DNA damage, its overexpression in certain cancers has been linked to chemoresistance and tumor progression.
GPX2 antibodies help elucidate its tissue-specific regulation, interaction partners, and potential as a diagnostic or therapeutic target. Validation of these antibodies for specificity and cross-reactivity with other GPX isoforms (e.g., GPX1. GPX4) is critical, given the high sequence homology within the family. Research using GPX2 antibodies continues to uncover its complex involvement in cellular defense mechanisms and disease pathways.