NRP2 Antibody

Neuropilin-2, also called Npn2 or VEGF165R2, is a member of the neuropilin family of receptor proteins. Sema3b can act to repulse axons expressing neuropilin-2 and can antagonize the repulsive action of Sema3a on axonal growth cones expressing neuropilin-1. NRP2 may play a role in cardiovascular development, axon guidance, and tumorigenesis. Mice with null mutations in genes encoding Sema3F, and its holoreceptor components NRP2 and Plexin A3 (PLEXA3) exhibit increased dentate gyrus granule cell and cortical layer V pyramidal neuron spine number and size, and also aberrant spine distribution. Moreover, Sema3F promotes loss of spines and excitatory synapses in dissociated neurons in vitro, and in NRP2-null brain slices cortical layer V and dentate gyrus granule cells exhibit increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. These disparate effects of secreted semaphorins are reflected in the restricted dendritic localization of Neuropilin-2 to apical dendrites and of NRP1 to all dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons.