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Fibrinogen Beta Chain 9 (FGB) is the beta component of fibrinogen, a blood-borne glycoprotein composed of 3 pairs of nonidentical polypeptide chains. When vascular injury accrues, fibrinogen is cleaved by thrombin to form fibrin which is found in abundance in blood clots.

TNFRSF17 is a receptor for tnfsf13b/blys/baff and tnfsf13/april. TNFRSF17 promotes b-cell survival and plays a role in the regulation of humoral immunity. TNFRSF17 activates nf-kappa-b and jnk. TNFRSF17 is a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFRSF17 is expressed in mature B lymphocytes, and is invloved in B cell development and autoimmune response. TNFRSF17 specifically binds to the tumor TNFSF13B/TALL-1/BAFF, which causes NF-kappaB and MAPK8/JNK activation. TNFRSF17 binds to a variety of TRAF family members, and therefore transduces signals for cell survival and proliferation. TNFRSF17 is a type III membrane protein having 1 extracellular cysteine rich domain. Within the TNFRSF, it shares the highest homology with TACI. BCMA and TACI have both been shown to bind to APRIL and BAFF, members of the TNF ligand superfamily. BCMA expression has been found in immune organs. TNFRSF17 appears to be localized to the Golgi compartment. The binding of BCMA to APRIL or BAFF has been shown to stimulate IgM production in peripheral blood B cells and increase the survival of cultured B cells.

GDF15 is part of the TGF-Beta superfamily which is involved in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and throughout disease processes. GDF15 is most abundant in the liver. Its expression in liver can be considerably up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung. GDF-15 promotes proliferation or growth arrest and differentiation due to differences in cellular differentiation. GDF15 prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK. GDF15 is a novel autocrine/endocrine factor that antagonizes the hypertrophic response and loss of ventricular performance.

GDF-5 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. Mutations in this gene are associated with acromesomelic dysplasia, Hunter-Thompson type; brachydactyly, type C; and chondrodysplasia, Grebe type. These associations confirm that the gene product plays a role in skeletal development.

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.

GMCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. The active form of the protein is found extracellularly as a homodimer. This gene has been localized to a cluster of related genes at chromosome region 5q31, which is known to be associated with interstitial deletions in the 5q- syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia. Other genes in the cluster include those encoding interleukins 4, 5, and 13.
GM-CSF stimulates the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells from various lineages, including granulocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and erythrocytes.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

GSK3B is a serine-threonine kinase that belongs to the glycogen synthase kinase subfamily. GSK3B is involved in energy metabolism, neuronal cell development, and body pattern formation. Polymorphisms in the GSK3B gene have been implicated in modifying risk of Parkinson disease, and studies in mice show that overexpression of the GSK3B gene may be significant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.

Basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3), which is a member of the NAC-beta family, forms a stable complex with RNA polymerase II. The BTF3 protein is vital for the initiation of transcription.

HGF, also known as scatter factor (SF) and Hepatocyte growth factor, is secreted from mesenchymal cells, targets and acts mainly on epithelial and endothelial cells. The protein is a paracrine cellular growth, motility and morphogenic factor. HGF can also be part of haemopoietic progenitor cells and T cells. HGF has a crucial role in embryonic organ development, mainly in myogenesis. In adults HGF takes part in organ regeneration and wound healing.

Chromosome 19 Open Reading Frame 80 (C19ORF80) is a significant new regulator of lipid metabolism which regulates serum triglyceride levels, possibly by promoting ANGPTL3 cleavage. C19ORF80 belongs to the ANGPTL protein family. C19ORF80 is a hormone which specifically promotes pancreatic beta cell proliferation and beta cell mass expansion, thus improving glucose tolerance. C19ORF80 is mainly expressed in the liver; it is also expressed in adipose tissues. C19ORF80 is expressed in response to food intake and stimulated by insulin.

TNFR1 belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFR1 is a receptor for TNFSF2/TNF-alpha and homotrimeric TNFSF1/lymphotoxin-alpha.
There are 2 types of soluble TNF receptors: sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II, which act to neutralize the biological activities of TNF alpha and TNF beta. The levels of these soluble receptors seem to increase as a result of shedding of the extracellular domains of the membrane bound receptors. TNF-a, TNFR1 and TNFR2 have roles in cellular differentiation. TNFR1 and TNFR2 function in cell type-specific renal injury.
TNFR1 is capable of signaling both cell survival and apoptosis. TNFR1-induced apoptosis requires 2 sequential signaling complexes. TNFR1 is capable of activating NF-kappaB, mediate apoptosis, and function as a regulator of inflammation. Oxidative stress promotes TNFR1 and TNFR2 self-interaction, ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling. TNFR1 contributes to the induction of non-cytocidal TNF effects including anti-viral state and activation of the acid sphingomyelinase. Human TNFR1 has a major region which controls cell surface expression. High levels of soluble TNF receptors are found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women.
Germline mutations of the extracellular domains of TNFR1 are linked to the autosomal dominant periodic fever syndrome. The impaired receptor clearance is believed to be a mechanism of the disease. Familial hibernian fever (FHF) is caused by defects in TNFRSF1A gene.

TNFRSF4, also known as TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 4, is a T cell co-stimulatory molecule which belongs to the TNF receptor superfamily. TNFRSF4 coordinates with other co-stimulatory substances such as CD28, CD40, CD30, CD27 and 4-1BB to control the activation of the immune response. TNFRSF4 takes a vital part in antigen-specific T cell expansion as well as survival. TNFRSF4 is up-regulated on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells upon engagement of the TCR by antigen presenting cells along with co-stimulation by CD40-CD40 Ligand and CD28-B7. In addition, TNFRSF4 regulates cytokine production from T cells, antigen presenting cells, natural killer cells and natural killer cells. TNFRSF4 regulates cytokine receptor signaling.

Reg protein was shown to be stimulated during the regeneration of pancreatic islets. Since then, many Reg-related proteins have been identified in humans and other animals. In human, the four REG family genes, i.e., REG 1 alpha, REG 1 beta, REG-related sequence (RS) and HIP/PAP, have so far been isolated. These Reg-related proteins are classified into four subfamilies according to their amino-acid sequences, but they share a similar structure and physiological function. Reg protein is a growth factor for pancreatic beta cells and also suggests that the administration of Reg protein could be used as another therapeutic approach for diabetes mellitus. Human REG cDNA which encodes a 166-amino acid protein with a 22-amino acid signal peptide. The amino acid sequence of human REG protein has 68% homology to that of rat Reg protein.
Reg I was found to be expressed mainly in pancreatic beta and acinoductular cells as well as gastric fundic enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Reg I production in ECL cells is stimulated by gastrin, as well as by the proinflammatory cytokine, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-2Beta. In patients with chronic hypergastrinemia, Reg production is stimulated, with the increased proliferation of gastric mucosal cells. Patients with Helicobacter pylori infection also showed increased Reg production in the gastric mucosa, partly via increased plasma gastrin concentration and partly via increased proinflammatory cytokine production. The serum concentration of the reg-protein was significantly higher in patients with various pancreatic diseases than in normal controls, and was also significantly higher in patients with acute pancreatitis or chronic relapsing pancreatitis than in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Furthermore, the serum PSP/reg-protein concentration was also significantly increased in liver cirrhosis, choledocholithiasis, and various cancers of the digestive system.

NUTF2 assists in protein transport into the nucleus and interacts with the nucleoporin p62 and with Ran. NUTF2 plays a role at a relatively late stage of nuclear protein import, subsequent to the initial docking of nuclear import ligand at the nuclear envelope. NUTF2 is part of a multicomponent system of cytosolic factors that come together at the pore complex during nuclear import.

Rat and mouse FGF-9 show a very high homology to human FGF-9. The transcripts for FGF-9 have been found in brain and in kidney tissue. Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF9 was isolated as a secreted factor that exhibits a growth-stimulating effect on cultured glial cells. In nervous system, this protein is produced mainly by neurons and may be important for glial cell development. Expression of the mouse homolog of this gene was found to be dependent on Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Mice lacking the homolog gene displayed a male-to-female sex reversal phenotype, which suggested a role in testicular embryogenesis Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 may have a role in glial cell growth and differentiation during development, gliosis during repair and regeneration of brain tissue after damage, differentiation and survival of neuronal cells, and growth stimulation of glial tumors.

GNAQ, also known as Guanine nucleotide-binding protein belong to the G-alpha family. Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) are involved as modulators or transducers in a variety of transmembrane signaling systems. GNAQ regulates B-cell selection and survival and is essential in order to prevent B-cell-dependent autoimmunity. GNAQ also regulates chemotaxis of BM-derived neutrophils and dendritic cells, in vitro. GNAQ is an alpha subunit in the Gq class, couples aseven-transmembrane domain receptor to activation of phospolipase C-beta. Mutations at this locus have beenconnected with problems in platelet activation and aggregation. A related pseudogene to GNAQ exists on chromosome 2.

E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF181 (RNF181) accepts ubiquitin from an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in the thioester form and subsequently directly transfers the ubiquitin to targeted substrates. RNF181 is widely expressed, with the highest levels in the liver and heart and the lowest levels in the brain and skeletal muscle. RNF181 is also expressed in platelets (at protein level).

RELM-beta (Resistin-Like Molecule-beta) is a member of a recently identified family of secreted proteins containing a conserved cystein-rich C-terminus. The RELM family consists of resistin (also called FIZZ3), RELM-alfa (FIZZ1), RELM-beta (FIZZ2) and RELM-gamma. Only resisistin and RELM-beta were found in humans whereas all four RELM family members were identified in rodents.
RELM-beta appears to be produced as a homodimer exclusively by intestinal goblet cells and can be found in high quantities in stool. Remarkably, stool of germ-free mice displaying sterile intestinal tract does not contain RELM-beta until bacterial colonization takes place after pathogen-free mice entered natural environment. Some, but not all, colon carcinoma cell lines secrete RELM-beta into the cell culture supernatant.
The physiological function of RELM-beta is not known. High doses of recombinant RELM-beta showed hyperglycemic effects including lowered glucose disposal and increased hepatic glucose production in mice.

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor (CNTFR) is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family and binds to CNTF. The alpha subunit provides the receptor specificity. Sole nucleotide polymorphisms in CNTFR has been associated with variations in muscle strength, in addition to early onset of eating disorders.

Chromosome 19 Open Reading Frame 80 (C19ORF80) is a significant new regulator of lipid metabolism which regulates serum triglyceride levels, possibly by promoting ANGPTL3 cleavage. C19ORF80 belongs to the ANGPTL protein family. C19ORF80 is a hormone which specifically promotes pancreatic beta cell proliferation and beta cell mass expansion, thus improving glucose tolerance. C19ORF80 is mainly expressed in the liver; it is also expressed in adipose tissues. C19ORF80 is expressed in response to food intake and stimulated by insulin.

Placental Growth Factor, also known as PGF is rich in trophoblastic giant cells which are linked with the parietal yolk sac at early stages of embryogenesis. Furthermore, the secretion of PGF by trophoblastic giant cells is the signal which initiates as well as co-ordinates vascularization in the deciduum and placenta during early embryogenesis.

ITGB4 (integrin beta-4 isoform 1) belongs to the Integrin beta family. ITGB4 forms noncovalent heterodimers with Integrin alpha 6 and takes part in the formation of epithelial hemidesmosomes. ITGB4 has a vital structural role in the hemidesmosome of epithelial cells and is needed for the regulation of keratinocyte motility & polarity. ITGB4 leans towards the association with alpha 6 subunit and is expected to take a key role in the biology of invasive carcinoma.

Nafarelin acetate is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Nafarelin stimulates the release of the pituitary gonadotropins, LH and FSH, resulting in a temporary increase of ovarian steroidogenesis.