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Official Full Name: Janus kinase 2
Also known as: JTK10
This gene encodes a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a central role in cytokine and growth factor signaling. The primary isoform of this protein has an n-terminal FERM domain required for erythropoietin receptor binding, an SH2 domain that binds STAT transcription factors, a pseudokinase domain, and a c-terminal tyrosine kinase domain. Cytokine binding induces autophosphorylation and activation of this kinase. The kinase then recruits and phosphorylates signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins. Growth factors like TGF-β1 also induce phosphorylation and activation of this kinase and translocate downstream STAT proteins to the nucleus, where they affect gene transcription. Mutations in this gene are associated with many inflammatory diseases and malignancies. This gene is a downstream target of the pleiotropic cytokine IL6 produced by B cells, T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, generating an immune response or inflammation. Dysregulation of the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway can lead to increased proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Nonsynonymous mutations in the pseudokinase domain of this gene disrupt the repressive role of this domain, resulting in constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation activity and hypersensitivity to cytokine signaling. This gene and the IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway are therapeutic targets for the treatment of excessive inflammatory responses to viral infections. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.