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Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/ macrophagemigration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ).VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesisand cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor.
Elevated levels of this protein are linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration. it increases cell permeability to monosaccharides, amino acids and fatty acids. it accelerates glycolysis, the pentose phosphate cycle, and glycogen synthesis in liver.

Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. The rat VEGFC cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues.
It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant rat VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT -4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant rat VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

Leptin Receptor is a part of the gp130 family of cytokine receptors that stimulate gene transcription by activating cytosolic STAT proteins. Leptin Receptor plays a role in the regulation of fat metabolism and in novel hematopoietic pathway that is obligatory for normal lymphopoiesis. Leptin Receptorparticipates in the regulation of counter-regulatory response to hypoglycemia by inhibiting neurons of the parabrachial nucleus.Leptin Receptoraffectsspecifically on T lymphocyte responses.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a chylomicron lipoprotein which is essential for the metabolism of lipoproteins and lipid transport. The APOE gene has 3 alleles, designated APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4. The APOE allelic proteins differ by only one or two amino acids, however have different biological structures and functions. APOE3 is the most common and neutral allele. The APOE4 allele is linked with an increased risk for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and coronary artery disease (CAD). The APOE4 protein morphology decreases the ability of APOE4 to clear beta-amyloid protein from the brain, resulting in AD progression. The APOE2 allele is linked with type III hyperlipoproteinemia, which is characterized by defects in the clearance of plasma lipoproteins, however APOE2 may have a protective effect against AD.

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A/B (HNRNPAB) is a member of the subfamily of ubiquitously expressed heterogeneous nuclearribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). The hnRNPs are produced by RNA polymerase II and are components of theheterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) complexes. They are linked with pre-mRNAs in the nucleus and seem to influence pre-mRNA processing and further aspects of mRNA metabolism and transport. Whereas all of the hnRNPsare present in the nucleus, some seem to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The hnRNP proteins have distinct nucleic acid binding properties. HNRNPAB, which binds to one of the components of the multiproteineditosome complex, has two repeats of quasi-RRM (RNA recognition motif) domains that bind to RNAs. Among the diseases associated with HNRNPAB are wells syndrome, and cystic fibrosis.

Nectin Cell Adhesion Molecule 2, also known as NECTIN2, is a Ca(2+)-independent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is one of the plasma membrane components of adherens junctions. NECTIN2 takes a vital part in the establishment of homotypic as well as heterotypic cell to cell contacts. NECTIN2 is essential for resisting herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in transfected cells. NECTIN2 is also a possible target for antibody therapy of breast & ovarian cancers. NECTIN2 might be related with human longevity. Two diseases which have been associated with NECTIN2 are Herpes Simplex and Ovarian Cystic Teratoma.

IFNs are cytokines that are widely known to induce potent anti-viral activity. IFN-a exerts a variety of other biological effects, including antitumor and immunomodulatory activities and are increasingly used clinically to treat a range of malignancies, myelodysplasias and autoimmune diseases.

IL11 is a member of the gp130 family of cytokines. These cytokines drive the assembly of multisubunit receptor complexes, all of which contain at least one molecule of the transmembrane signaling receptor IL6ST (gp130). IL-11 is shown to stimulate the T-cell-dependent development of immunoglobulin-producing B cells. It is also found to support the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitor cells.

Prefoldin subunit 2 (PFDN2) belongs to the prefoldin beta subunit family. The PFDN2 protein is one of 6 subunits of prefoldin, which is a molecular chaperone complex that binds and stabilizes newly synthesized polypeptides, thus allowing them to fold correctly. PFDN2 binds specifically to cytosolic chaperonin (c-CPN) and transfers target proteins to it. PFDN2 also binds to a nascent polypeptide chain and promotes folding in an setting in which there are many competing pathways for nonnative proteins.

Endothelial cells express three different vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, belonging to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). They are named VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1), and VEGFR-3 (Flt-4). Their expression is almost exclusively restricted to endothelial cells, but VEGFR-1 can also be found on monocytes. All VEGF-receptors have seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular split tyrosine kinase domain. VEGFR-2 has a lower affinity for VEGF than the Flt-1 receptor, but a higher signalling activity. Mitogenic activity in endothelial cells is mainly mediated by VEGFR-2 leading to their proliferation. Differential splicing of the flt-1 gene leads to the formation of a secreted, soluble variant of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1). No naturally occurring, secreted forms of VEGFR-2 have so far been reported. The binding of VEGF165 to VEGFR-2 is dependent on heparin.

Pallidin is involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking. PLDN cooperates with Syntaxin 13 that facilitates intracellular membrane fusion. A Few alternatively spliced transcript variations of this gene have been discovered however the full-length nature of several of these variants has not been determined. PLDN takes part in the creation of lysosome-related organelles, for example melanosomes and platelet-dense granules. PLDN is known to cooperate with Dysbindin, BLOC1S1, STX12, CNO, MUTED, SNAPAP and BLOC1S2.

Podocalyxin (PODXL) is a greatly glycosylated transmembrane sialoprotein in the CD34 and endoglycan family. The PODXL protein is involved in the regulation of both adhesion and cell morphology and cancer progression. PODXL functions as an anti-adhesive molecule, which retains an open filtration pathway between neighboring foot processes in the podocyte by charge repulsion. Moreover, PODXL serves as a pro-adhesive molecule, enhancing the adherence of cells to immobilized ligands, increasing the rate of migration and cell-cell contacts in an integrin-dependent manner.

Histone H2A.Z (H2AFZ) belongs to the histone H2A family. Histones are basic nuclear proteins which are responsible for the nucleosome structure of the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Nucleosomes consist of approximately 146 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer composed of pairs of each of the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4). H2AFZ is implicated in the formation of constitutive heterochromatin and vital for chromosome segregation during cell division. Moreover, variant Histone H2A, which takes the place of conventional H2A in a subset of nucleosomes. Studies in mice have demonstrated that this particular histone is essential for embryonic development and show that lack of functional histone H2A leads to embryonic lethality.

Resistin, also known as adipose tissue-specific secretory factor (ADSF) is a cysteine-rich peptide derived from adipose tissue. Resistin takes part in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, and angiogenesis.Resistin blocks insulinstimulated uptake of glucose by adipocytes and promote glucose release by hepatocytes. As such,Resistin considered to participate in diet‑induced insulin-sensitivity. Resistin causes high levels of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), increasing the risk of heart disease.

Omentin is a recently recognized gene highly localized to the mental tissue (visceral adipose tissue). Omentin is present in the stromal vascular cells in the adipose tissue rather than in the adipocytes. Omentin is predominantly expressed in the visceral adipose tissue than the subcutaneous tissue, with the omentin mRNA being 150 times higher in the visceral adipose tissue. Omentin has also been detected in human blood using western blot analysis, and seems to increase INSstimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in mice. Omentin seems to increase Akt phosphorylation irrespective of INS presence. Its role in glucose metabolism and obesity remains to be described; an INS-sensitizing action is possible.Differences in Omentin expression has been noted in adipose tissue from normals and patients with inflammatory bowel disease although its significance is unknown.

Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is a phosphotransferase (a kinase): 2'-deoxythymidine kinase, ATP-thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase. TK1 is present in 2 forms in mammalian cells, TK1 and TK2. Thymidine kinases hold a main function in the synthesis of DNA and thus in cell division, as they are part of the distinctive reaction chain to introduce deoxythymidine (present in the body fluids as a result of degradation of DNA from food and from dead cells) into the DNA. Thymidine kinase is necessary for the action of many antiviral drugs. Thymidine kinase is used to select hybridoma cell lines in production of monoclonal antibodies.

Beta Defensin 118 (DEFB118) which is a member of the beta subfamily of defensins, is found in a cluster with other beta-defensin genes on the long arm of chromosome 20. Beta-defensins are antimicrobial peptides which provide protection for tissues and organs from infection by a diversity of microorganisms. DEFB118 protein’s expression is regulated by androgen, and the encoded protein binds to sperm and exhibits antibacterial activity.

Annexin VII is a member of the annexin family of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Annexin VII has molecular weight of approximately 51 kDa with a unique, highly hydrophobic N-terminal domain of 167 amino acids and a conserved C-terminal region of 299 amino acids. The latter domain is composed of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. Structural analysis of the protein suggests that Annexin VII is a membrane binding protein with diverse properties including voltage-sensitive calcium channel activity, ion selectivity and membrane fusion.

ARF1 is a small guanine nucleotide-binding protein that increases the enzymatic activities of cholera toxin. ARF1 is necessary and ubiquitous in eukaryotes. ARF1 takes part in vesicular transport and functioning via phospholipase D activation. ARF1 is involved in membrane traffic and organelle integrity which are closely tied to their reversible association with membranes and distinct interactions with membrane phospholipids.

SNTN is a member of to the S-100 family. SNTN is localized solely to the bridging structure between the cell membrane and peripheral singlet microtubules that specifically exists in the narrowed distal portion of cilia. Exogenously expressed sentan displayed affinity for the membrane protrusions, and a protein-lipid binding assay discovered that sentan bounds to phosphatidylserine which indicate that sentan is the leading molecular component of the ciliary tip to link the cell membrane and peripheral singlet microtubules, making the distal portion of the cilia narrow and stiff to permit better airway approval or ovum transport.