The protein encoded by this gene is a member of a family of proteins that inhibits apoptosis by binding to tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors TRAF1 and TRAF2, probably by interfering with activation of ICE-like proteases. This encoded protein inhibits apoptosis induced by serum deprivation and menadione, a potent inducer of free radicals. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2012]
Forensic Context
A study in mice demonstrated that the BIRC2 (BIRC2) was upregulated in common in spleen leukocytes across all three injury models of trauma/hemorrhage, burn, and LPS infusion at a 2-hour post-injury time point, where it was assigned to pathways involved in cell death [Brownstein et al. DOI:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00213.2005]. This upregulation was part of a common early transcriptional response to systemic inflammation, and the expression pattern for this and other genes in the cell death pathway was validated by RT-PCR, showing good correspondence with microarray findings.