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CXCL2 C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 [ Homo sapiens (human) ]

Gene ID: 2920, updated on 8-Apr-2026
Official Symbol
CXCL2provided by HGNC
Official Full Name
C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2provided by HGNC
Primary source
HGNC:HGNC:4603
See related
Ensembl:ENSG00000081041 MIM:139110; AllianceGenome:HGNC:4603
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
REVIEWED
Organism
Homo sapiens
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as
GRO2; GROb; MIP2; MIP2A; SCYB2; MGSA-b; MIP-2a; CINC-2a
Summary
This antimicrobial gene is part of a chemokine superfamily that encodes secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. The superfamily is divided into four subfamilies based on the arrangement of the N-terminal cysteine residues of the mature peptide. This chemokine, a member of the CXC subfamily, is expressed at sites of inflammation and may suppress hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2014]
Annotation information
Note: This gene has been reviewed for its involvement in coronavirus biology, and is involved in immune response or antiviral activity.
Expression
Broad expression in liver (RPKM 52.2), gall bladder (RPKM 27.8) and 15 other tissues See more
Orthologs
all
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Try the new Transcripts and proteins table
See CXCL2 in Genome Data Viewer
Location:
4q13.3
Exon count:
4
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2025_08 current GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40) 4 NC_000004.12 (74097040..74099195, complement)
RS_2025_08 current T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1) 4 NC_060928.1 (77440641..77442796, complement)
RS_2024_09 previous assembly GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25) 4 NC_000004.11 (74962757..74964912, complement)

Chromosome 4 - NC_000004.12Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene CRISPRi-validated cis-regulatory element chr4.1813 Neighboring gene CRISPRi-validated cis-regulatory element chr4.1814 Neighboring gene pro-platelet basic protein pseudogene 2 Neighboring gene Sharpr-MPRA regulatory region 7725 Neighboring gene coiled-coil domain containing 90B pseudogene Neighboring gene Sharpr-MPRA regulatory region 1179 Neighboring gene Sharpr-MPRA regulatory region 14567 Neighboring gene MTHFD2L antisense RNA 1 Neighboring gene methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP+ dependent) 2 like Neighboring gene H3K27ac hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:75022974-75023732 Neighboring gene H3K27ac hESC enhancer GRCh37_chr4:75023733-75024489 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid active region 21614 Neighboring gene Sharpr-MPRA regulatory region 11080 Neighboring gene ATAC-STARR-seq lymphoblastoid silent region 15477 Neighboring gene EREG, EPGN and MTHFD2L antisense RNA 1 Neighboring gene epithelial mitogen

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

  • Project title: Tissue-specific circular RNA induction during human fetal development
  • Description: 35 human fetal samples from 6 tissues (3 - 7 replicates per tissue) collected between 10 and 20 weeks gestational time were sequenced using Illumina TruSeq Stranded Total RNA
  • BioProject: PRJNA270632
  • Publication: PMID 26076956
  • Analysis date: Mon Apr 2 22:54:59 2018

Related articles in PubMed

  1. Roles of chemokine ligand-2 (CXCL2) and neutrophils in influencing endothelial cell function and inflammation of human adipose tissue. Rouault C, et al. Endocrinology, 2013 Mar. PMID 23372021
  2. Pneumocystis carinii cell wall beta-glucan induces release of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 from alveolar epithelial cells via a lactosylceramide-mediated mechanism. Hahn PY, et al. J Biol Chem, 2003 Jan 17. PMID 12419803
  3. Monocyte adherence results in selective induction of novel genes sharing homology with mediators of inflammation and tissue repair. Sporn SA, et al. J Immunol, 1990 Jun 1. PMID 2341726
  4. CXCL2 synthesized by oral squamous cell carcinoma is involved in cancer-associated bone destruction. Oue E, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2012 Aug 3. PMID 22771802
  5. Identification of genes and pathways, including the CXCL2 axis, altered by DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Subat S, et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2019 Mar. PMID 30564899, Free PMC Article

See all (112) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. Identification and Validation of CXCL2 as a Key Gene for Childhood Obesity.
    Title: Identification and Validation of CXCL2 as a Key Gene for Childhood Obesity.
  2. Tumor-associated macrophages mediate gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell metastasis through CXCL2/CXCR2.
    Title: Tumor-associated macrophages mediate gastrointestinal stromal tumor cell metastasis through CXCL2/CXCR2.
  3. CXCL2 acts as a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltrates in stomach adenocarcinoma.
    Title: CXCL2 acts as a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltrates in stomach adenocarcinoma.
  4. ARG1 and CXCL2 are potential biomarkers target for psoriasis patients.
    Title: ARG1 and CXCL2 are potential biomarkers target for psoriasis patients.
  5. SNAIL Induces EMT and Lung Metastasis of Tumours Secreting CXCL2 to Promote the Invasion of M2-Type Immunosuppressed Macrophages in Colorectal Cancer.
    Title: SNAIL Induces EMT and Lung Metastasis of Tumours Secreting CXCL2 to Promote the Invasion of M2-Type Immunosuppressed Macrophages in Colorectal Cancer.
  6. Regulation of tumor immune suppression and cancer cell survival by CXCL1/2 elevation in glioblastoma multiforme.
    Title: Regulation of tumor immune suppression and cancer cell survival by CXCL1/2 elevation in glioblastoma multiforme.
  7. CXCL2-mediated ATR/CHK1 signaling pathway and platinum resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.
    Title: CXCL2-mediated ATR/CHK1 signaling pathway and platinum resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.
  8. CXCL2/10/12/14 are prognostic biomarkers and correlated with immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Title: CXCL2/10/12/14 are prognostic biomarkers and correlated with immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma.
  9. Cis-acting lnc-Cxcl2 restrains neutrophil-mediated lung inflammation by inhibiting epithelial cell CXCL2 expression in virus infection.
    Title: Cis-acting lnc-Cxcl2 restrains neutrophil-mediated lung inflammation by inhibiting epithelial cell CXCL2 expression in virus infection.
  10. CXCL2 benefits acute myeloid leukemia cells in hypoxia.
    Title: CXCL2 benefits acute myeloid leukemia cells in hypoxia.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (68)

Find tests for this gene in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry (GTR)

Review eQTL and phenotype association data in this region using PheGenI

EBI GWAS Catalog

Description
Genome-wide association study of white blood cell count in 16,388 African Americans: the continental origins and genetic epidemiology network (COGENT).
EBI GWAS Catalog
Host-microbe interactions have shaped the genetic architecture of inflammatory bowel disease.
EBI GWAS Catalog
Identification of nine novel loci associated with white blood cell subtypes in a Japanese population.
EBI GWAS Catalog

See variants in ClinVar

See studies and variants in dbVar

See Variation Viewer (GRCh37.p13)

Protein interactions

Protein Gene Interaction Pubs
Envelope surface glycoprotein gp120 env HIV-1 gp120-treated vaginal epithelial cells show upregulation of CXCL2 expression as compared to untreated control PubMed
Tat tat Microarray analysis indicates HIV-1 Tat-induced upregulation of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells PubMed

Go to the HIV-1, Human Interaction Database

Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

Markers

Homology

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables chemokine activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables chemokine activity TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
enables protein binding IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
 PubMed 
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in antimicrobial humoral immune response mediated by antimicrobial peptide IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in cell chemotaxis IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in chemotaxis IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in chemotaxis TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in defense response IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in immune response IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in inflammatory response TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in killing of cells of another organism IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in response to molecule of bacterial origin IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
Component Evidence Code Pubs
located_in extracellular region IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in extracellular region TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
Preferred Names
C-X-C motif chemokine 2
Names
GRO2 oncogene
MGSA beta
MIP2-alpha
chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2
gro-beta
growth-regulated protein beta
macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha
melanoma growth stimulatory activity beta

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_002089.4 → NP_002080.1  C-X-C motif chemokine 2 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_002080.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    Source sequence(s)
    BC053653, BX334969, X53799
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS34008.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    P19875, Q6FGD6, Q9UPB8
    Related
    ENSP00000427279.1, ENST00000508487.3
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00273
    Location:40 → 102
    Chemokine_CXC; Chemokine_CXC: 1 of 4 subgroup designations based on the arrangement of the two N-terminal cysteine residues; includes a number of secreted growth factors and interferons involved in mitogenic, chemotactic, and inflammatory activity; many members ...

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001405.40-RS_2025_08

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

Genomic

  1. NC_000004.12 Reference GRCh38.p14 Primary Assembly

    Range
    74097040..74099195 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

Genomic

  1. NC_060928.1 Alternate T2T-CHM13v2.0

    Range
    77440641..77442796 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)
Nucleotide Protein
Heading Accession and Version
Protein Accession Links
GenPept Link UniProtKB Link
P19875.1 GenPept UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot:P19875

Gene LinkOut

The following LinkOut resources are supplied by external providers. These providers are responsible for maintaining the links.

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