Butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) is a member of the BTN/MOG Ig-superfamily and functions as a negative regulator of immune cell activation. Mouse BTNL2 is type I transmembrane glycoprotein that contains an extracellular domain (ECD), a transmembrane region and a short cytoplasmic domain. The ECD features two V-type Ig-like domains, two C-type Ig-like domains, and four glycosylation sites. BTNL2 is expressed in epithelial cells of the small intestine, colonic dendritic cells, and in cells of the lymph node. BTNL2 expression is upregulated in T cells following activation, a characteristic BTNL2 shares with the homologous B7 family of costimulatory molecules. BTNL2 negatively regulates T cells by inhibiting proliferation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. It also increases the expression of FoxP3 in T cells to promote regulatory T cell development. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in BTNL2 are associated with a risk for sporadic prostate cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis, and other inflammatory diseases.
