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Clusterin also named Apolipoprotein J (APO-J) is a 75-80 kD disulfide-linked heterodimeric protein containing about 30% of N-linked carbohydrate rich in sialic acid but truncated forms targeted to the nucleus have also been identified.
The precursor polypeptide chain is cleaved proteolytically to remove the 22-mer secretory signal peptide and subsequently between residues 227/228 to generate the a and b chains. These are assembled in anti-parallel to give a heterodimeric molecule in which the cysteine-rich centers are linked by five disulfide bridges and are flanked by two predicted coiled-coil a-helices and three predicted amphipathic a-helices.
Across a broad range of species clusterin shows a high degree of sequence homology ranging from 70% to 80%. It is nearly ubiquitously expressed in most mammalian tissues and can be found in plasma, milk, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and semen.
It is able to bind and form complexes with numerous partners such as immunoglobulins, lipids, heparin, bacteria, complement components, paraoxonase, beta amyloid, leptin and others. Clusterin has been ascribed a plethora of functions such as phagocyte recruitment, aggregation induction, complement attack prevention, apoptosis inhibition, membrane remodeling, lipid transport, hormone transport and/or scavenging, matrix metalloproteinase inhibition.
A genuine function of clusterin has not been defined. One tempting hypothesis says that clusterin is an extracellular chaperone protecting cells from stress induced insults caused by degraded and misfolded protein precipitates.
Clusterin is up- or down regulated on the mRNA or protein level in many pathological and clinically relevant situations including cancer, organ regeneration, infection, Alzheimer disease, retinitis pigmentosa, myocardial infarction, renal tubular damage, autoimmunity and others.

Uteroglobin (SCGB1A1) which belongs to the Secretoglobin (SCGBs) superfamily, is a multifunctional protein that exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effects by binding small hydrophobic molecules such as phospholipids and prostaglandins. Uteroglobin is involved in numerous functions including anti-inflammation, inhibition of phospholipase A2 and the sequestering of hydrophobic ligands. SCGB1A1 is expressed by Clara cells, the non-ciliated, non-mucous secretory cells predominant in lung bronchioles, and by other epithelia which communicate with the external environment. On top of sequestering pro-inflammatory mediators and carcinogens, Uteroglobin is implicated in the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, platelet aggregation, and T cell differentiation. SCGB1A1 gene defects are associated with a susceptibility to asthma.

KLRB1 has an inhibitory role on natural killer (NK) cells cytotoxicity which are lymphocytes who facilitate cytotoxicity and secrete cytokines subsequent to immune stimulation. Some genes of the C-type lectin superfamily, like the rodent NKRP1 family of glycoproteins, are expressed by NK cells and take part in NK cell function regulation. KLRB1 holds an extracellular domain with a few characteristic motifs of C-type lectins, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. Due to its external C terminus KLRB1 is considered to be a type II membrane protein.

Osteoprotegerin acts as decoy receptor for rankl and thereby neutralizes its function in osteoclastogenesis. OPG inhibits the activation of osteoclasts and promotes osteoclast apoptosis in vitro. Bone homeostasis seems to depend on the local rankl/opg ratio. Osteoprotegerin may also play a role in preventing arterial calcification. May act as decoy receptor for trail and protect against apoptosis. Trail binding blocks the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

Inducible T-Cell Costimulator Ligand also known as ICOSLG, is part of the B7 family of co-stimulatory molecules related to B7-1 and B7-2. ICOSLG is a transmembrane glycoprotein with extracellular IgV and IgC domains, in addition it binds to ICOS on activated T cells. The dependent signaling of ICOSLG takes part in a proliferative response.

Activin A Receptor Type 1 (ACVR1) is a member of TGF-beta serine/threonine kinase receptor family. ACVR1 forms a receptor complex contains2 type II and 2 type I transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. Type II receptors phosphorylate and activate type I receptors which autophosphorylate,bind and activate SMAD transcriptional regulators. ACVR1 takes part in left-right pattern formation during embryogenesis and is also essential in the BMP pathway which is responsible for the development and repair of the skeletal system.ACVR1 is linked to Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva which isknown for the formation of heterotopic bone throughout the body.

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins which is termed the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue- Specific Secretory Factor) and FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone). Human resistin contains 108 amino acids as a prepeptide, and its hydrofobic signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Resistin circulates in human blood as a dimeric protein consisting of two 92 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity to insulin. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin is present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and is down regulated by fasting and antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severly suppressed in obesity and is stimulated by several antidiabetic drugs.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Buserelin belongs to the group of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (gonadorelin) analogues (LHRH agonist). It acts on the pituitary gland which controls the amount of many different types of hormones (chemical messengers). It alters the amount of hormones, particularly the oestrogens androgens. This alteration of hormone levels can be exploited to treat cancers of the prostate gland, which are stimulated to grow by testosterone. Buserelin lowers the levels of testosterone, which starves the tumour of testosterone and causes it to shrink.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor.
The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

KLRD1, also known as Killer Cell Lectin Like Receptor D1, is expressed on the surface of natural killer cells in the innate immune system. KLRD1 functions as a receptor for the recognition of MHC class I HLA-E molecules by NK cells and some cytotoxic T-cells. KLRD1 can create disulfide-bonded heterodimer with NKG2 family members. CD94 & NKG2 complex interacts with (HLA)-E, Human Leukocyte Antigen on target cells on the surface of natural killer cells.

ST13 is an adaptor protein (co-chaperone) that mediates the association of HSP70 & HSP90 and appears in early receptor complexes. ST13 plays a role in the assembly process of glucocorticoid receptor, which requires the assistance of multiple molecular chaperones. The expression of ST13 is downregulated in colorectal carcinoma tissue signifying that is candidate tumor suppressor gene. Through common binding to both Hsp70 and Hsp90, ST13 functions as an adaptor that can integrate Hsp70 and Hsp90 interactions. The expression of ST13 decreases in colorectal cancer tissue compared with that in adjacent normal tissue. ST13 is mostly expressed in colorectal epithelia and adenocarcinoma cells. ST13 functions to promote the efficiency of glucocorticoid receptor maturation in cells. The expression levels of the ST13 gene were significantly decreased in primary tumors compared with adjacent mucosa.

GCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes. The active protein is found extracellularly. Three transcript variants encoding three different isoforms have been found for the GCSF gene. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. This csf induces granulocytes.

Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 10, also known as CHST10 is a member of the sulfotransferase 2 family. CHST10 was first recognized as a sulfotransferase which acts on the human natural killer-1 (HNK-1) glycan. Furthermore, CHST10 is a carbohydrate involved in neurodevelopment as well as synaptic plasticity.

RAET1E is a member of the MHC class I family. MHC class I family contains main histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related genes positioned in a cluster on chromosome 6q24.2-q25.3. RAET1E and RAET1G protein are different from other RAET1 proteins since they have type I membrane-spanning sequences at their C termini instead glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor sequences.RAET1E acts as a ligand for NKG2D receptor, expressed on the surface of numerous types of immune cells, involves in innate adaptive immune reactions.RAET1E delivers signals to NK cells and advances tumor immune surveillance by inducing the growth of anti-tumor cytotoxic lymphocyte.

SNF8 belongs to the SNF8 family of vacuolar sorting proteins and is restricts to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. SNF8 is a subunit of the endosomal sorting complex essential for transport II (ESCRT-II), which is necessary for multivesicular body (MVB) formation and sorting of endosomal cargo proteins into MVBs. The MVB pathway facilitates transfer of transmembrane proteins into the lumen of the lysosome for degradation. Additionally, the ESCRT-II complex takes part in transcription regulation by contributing to derepression of transcription by RNA polymerase II, probably by its interface with ELL.

Secreted Protein Acidic & Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) protein is coded by the SPARC gene in humans. SPARC is a glycoprotein located in bones that binds to calcium. SPARC is produced by fibroblasts, capillary endothelial cells, platelets and macrophages, mainly in areas of tissue morphogenesis and remodelling. Asides from calcium, SPARC can also bind to collagen.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that was previously called GRO1 oncogene, Neutrophil-activating protein 3 (NAP-3) and melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha (MSGA-a). It is secreted by human melanoma cells, has mitogenic properties and is implicated in melanoma pathogenesis. CXCL1 is expressed by macrophages, neutrophilsand epithelial cells, and has neutrophil chemoattractant activity. CXCL1 plays a role in spinal cord development by inhibiting the migration of oligodendrocyte precursors and is involved in the processes of angiogenesis, inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. This chemokine elicits its effects by signaling through the chemokine receptor CXCR2. The gene for CXCL1 is located on human chromosome 4 amongst genes for other CXC chemokines.

A 16kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

XCL1 is a small cytokine belongs to the XC chemokine family that is also known as lymphotactin. XCL1 is found in high levels in spleen, thymus, intestine and peripheral blood leukocytes, and at lower levels in lung, prostate gland and ovary. Cellular sources for XCL1 include activated thymic and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. This chemokine attracts T cells. In humans, XCL1 is closely related to XCL2, whose gene is found at the same locus on chromosome 1. XCL1 induces it chemotactic function by binding to a chemokine receptor called XCR1.