BV2

Bv2 is an alphanumeric term that can refer to several distinct concepts, depending on context. There is no single universally accepted definition for Bv2, but two uses are particularly common in public literature.

In biology and neuroscience, BV-2 (often written BV-2 or BV2) denotes an immortalized murine microglial cell line used as a model of microglial function. It was derived from neonatal mouse brain tissue and immortalized to permit continuous growth. BV-2 cells are adherent and display microglia-like morphology, and they are routinely used to study inflammatory signaling, cytokine production (such as TNF-α and IL-6), phagocytosis, and responses to stimuli like lipopolysaccharide. They offer ease of cultivation and high reproducibility compared with primary microglia, but gene expression and functional profiles can differ from primary cells, so researchers often validate findings in additional models.

In technology and product naming, Bv2 is sometimes used to indicate a second beta release or build version, as in beta version 2 or build 2. This usage is informal and not standardized, and meanings can vary by organization. When encountering Bv2 in software, hardware, or documentation, the surrounding text usually clarifies whether it refers to a beta release, a specific product variant, or a code name.

Other uses of the term may appear in catalogs, datasets, or model identifiers, but they are generally context-dependent and not widely standardized.