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Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the major etiologic agent of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide, is a spherical, non-enveloped, single stranded RNA virus that is approximately 32 to 34 nm in diameter. HEV belongs to a genus of HEV-like viruses (unassigned genus). HEV has a single-stranded polyadenylated RNA genome of approximately 8 kb. Based on its physicochemical properties it is presumed to be a calici-like virus.

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

Cytokeratin 16, also known as KRT16, is a member of the keratin gene family. KRT16 which acts as a regulator of innate immunity in response to skin barrier breach is required for some inflammatory checkpoint for the skin barrier maintenance. KRT16 is coexpressed with keratin 14 in a few epithelial tissues as esophagus, tongue, and hair follicles.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN), a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

TNFSF15 is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, but is not expressed in either B or T cells. The expression of TNFSF15 is inducible by TNF and IL-1 alpha. This cytokine is a ligand for receptor TNFRSF25 and decoy receptor TNFRSF21/DR6. It can activate NF-kappaB and MAP kinases, and acts as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. TNFSF15 is also found to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, and thus may function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. An additional isoform encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript variant has been reported but the sequence of this transcript has not been determined.

HSP90B1 is an abundant molecular chaperone resident endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumenal stress protein which is part of the Hsp90 family. HSP90B1 is involved in maintaining protein homeostasis in the secretory pathway as well as functioning in the intracellular trafficking of peptides from the extracellular space to the MHC class I antigen processing pathway of antigen presentation cells. HSP90B1 has key roles in signal transduction, protein folding, protein degradation, and morphologic evolution. HSP90B1 protein associates with numerous cochaperones and involved in folding of newly synthesized proteins or stabilizing and refolding denatured proteins after stress. HSP90B1 is highly expressed in human gastric carcinoma BGC-823 cells during the whole cell cycle.

STK11, which controls cell polarity and functions as a tumour suppressor, belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family. Mutations in this gene have been linked to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome- an autosomal dominant disorder. It is characterized by the growth of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, pigmented macules on the skin and mouth, and other neoplasms.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor beta (PKIB) belongs to the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor family. PKIB may interact with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and function as a competitive inhibitor.

Testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase 6 (TSSK6) is an intronless gene, which belongs to the CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. The TSSK6 protein contains one protein kinase domain. TSSK6 is highly expressed in the testis and lowly expressed in the colon, prostate, thymus, small intestine, and peripheral blood leukocytes. TSSK6 interacts with the heatshock proteins HSPA8, HSPCB, and HAPA1A; these interactions seem to be essential for TSSK6 kinase activity. TSSK6 plays a role in DNA condensation during postmeiotic chromatin remodeling. In addition, TSSK6 is required for sperm production and function.

CKS2 protein binds to the catalytic subunit of the cyclin dependent kinases and is necessary for their biological function. The CKS2 mRNA is expressed in various patterns through the cell cycle in HeLa cells, which shows spcific role for the encoded protein. CKS2 (CDC28) Protein kinase 2 binds to the catalytic subunit of cyclin-dependent kinases and has thus in involved in cell cycle regulation. CKS2 is required for the first metaphase/anaphase transition during the meiosis. An increase in expression of CKS2 protects the cells from apoptosis. CKS2 is essential during early embryogenesis and cell cycle progression in somatic cells.

Entry of HSV into the host cell involves interactions of several viral glycoproteins with cell surface receptors. The virus particle is covered by an envelope which, when bound to specific receptors on the cell surface, will fuse with the cell membrane and create an opening, or pore, through which the virus enters the host cell. The sequential stages of HSV entry are analagous to those of other viruses. At first, complementary receptors on the virus and cell surface bring the two membranes into proximity. In an intermediate state, the two membranes begin to merge, forming a hemifusion state. Finally, a stable entry pore is formed through which the viral envelope contents are introduced to the host cell.

Entry of HSV into the host cell involves interactions of several viral glycoproteins with cell surface receptors. The virus particle is covered by an envelope which, when bound to specific receptors on the cell surface, will fuse with the cell membrane and create an opening, or pore, through which the virus enters the host cell. The sequential stages of HSV entry are analagous to those of other viruses. At first, complementary receptors on the virus and cell surface bring the two membranes into proximity. In an intermediate state, the two membranes begin to merge, forming a hemifusion state. Finally, a stable entry pore is formed through which the viral envelope contents are introduced to the host cell.

KGF 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. FGF7 is a potent epithelial cell-specific growth factor, whose mitogenic activity is predominantly exhibited in keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Studies of mouse and rat homologs of this gene implicated roles in morphogenesis of epithelium, reepithelialization of wounds, hair development and early lung organogenesis.

DCK (Deoxycytidine kinase) is a key enzyme in the salvage of deoxyribonucleosides and in the activation of clinically relevant nucleoside analogues. DCK is responsible for the 5`-phosphorylation of purine and pyrimidine deoxynucleosides to the corresponding monophosphates using ATP or UTP as phosphate donors. Deficiency of the DCK enzyme activity is linked to resistance to antiviral and anticancer chemotherapeutic agents, whereas increased DCK enzyme activity is linked to increased activation of these compounds to cytotoxic nucleoside triphosphate derivatives.

STK17A belongs to the DAP kinase-associated apoptosis-inducing protein kinase family and encodes an autophosphorylated nuclear protein with a protein kinase domain. STK17A acts as a positive regulator of apoptosis. STK17A is greatly expressed in the placenta with lower levels in the heart, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas.

PCK1 is a central regulating point for the regulation of gluconeogenesis. PCK1 has a vital part in this process by stimulating hepatic glucose production. The expression of PCK1 is controlled by cAMP, glucocorticoids, diet etc. Modulation of the signals controlling PCK1 levels offers a possible therapeutic tactic to the treatment of Diabetes and subsequently obesity.

ILK1 (Integrin-linked kinase) is a serine/threonine protein kinase, containing 4 ankyrin-like repeats. ILK1 regulates a number of biological properties which include: anchorage-independent cell cycle progression, tumor cell invasion and apoptosis. ILK1 can also be implicated in mediating cell architecture, adhesion to integrin substrates and anchorage-dependent growth in epithelial cells. Furthermore, ILK1 phosphorylates beta-1 and beta-3 integrin subunit on serine and threonine residues, but also AKT1 and GSK3B.
ILK1 interacts with the cytoplasmic domains of integrin ?1 and ?3 subunits in addition to several adaptors and signaling proteins, it also acts as a proximal receptor kinase regulating integrin-mediated signal transduction. ILK1 is a focal adhesion protein part of the complex ILK-PINCH. This complex is deemed to be one of the convergence points of integrin- and growth factor-signaling pathway. ILK1 is stimulated rapidly but briefly by both cell fibronectin interactions in a PI3-K-dependent manner, probably through the binding of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 with a PH-like domain of ILK.
ILK1 over-expression has been documented in a wide variety of human malignancies.

TOP1 is an important nuclear enzyme that interconverts supercoiled DNA to the necessary topological conformations for standard DNA replication and transcription. TOP1 is the target antigen for TOP1 autoantibodies. TOP1 antibodies are a specific marker in scleroderma patients (specificity 98-100%) and are related with the existence of diffuse skin involvement and pulmonary fibrosis. In human tissues top1 enzyme is primarily synthesized as a protein with a molecular weight of 100-kDa. Most of this precursor is then proteolytically processed to a 70-kDa size, from which the TOP1 antigen has derived its name.

Ribokinase (RBKS) is a member of the pfkB family of carbohydrate kinases. Ribokinase phosphorylates ribose to form ribose-5-phosphate in the presence of ATP and magnesium as a first step in ribose metabolism.

KGF 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. FGF7 is a potent epithelial cell-specific growth factor, whose mitogenic activity is predominantly exhibited in keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Studies of mouse and rat homologs of this gene implicated roles in morphogenesis of epithelium, reepithelialization of wounds, hair development and early lung organogenesis.

Cytokeratin 17 also known as KRT17 is a type I cytokeratin. KRT17 is found in nail beds, hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and other epidermal appendages. Mutations in KRT17 lead to Jackson-Lawler type pachyonychia congenita and steatocystoma multiplex. KRT17 takes part in the formation and maintenance of a variety of skin appendages, particularly in determining shape and orientation of hair. KRT17 also modulates the function of TNF-alpha in the precise context of hair cycling. Moreover, KRT17 regulates protein synthesis and epithelial cell growth all through binding to the adapter protein SFN and by stimulating Akt/mTOR pathway.

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/macrophage migration, 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 mitogenesis and 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 is linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

HSP70 is a human heat shock protein. HSP-70 is an important part of the cell's machinery for protein folding, and help to protect cells from stress. In most species, there are many proteins that belong to the HSP70 family. Some of these are only expressed under stress conditions, while some are present in cells under normal growth conditions and are not heat-inducible. They can be found in different cellular compartments (nuclear, cytosolic, mitochondrial, endoplasmic reticulum, etc...).

p38a/SAPK2 is a member of the MAP kinase family. MAP kinases act as an integration point for multiple biochemical signals, and are involved in a wide variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, transcription regulation and development. This kinase is activated by various environmental stresses and proinflammatory cytokines. The activation requires its phosphorylation by MAP kinase kinases (MKKs), or its autophosphorylation triggered by the interaction of MAP3K7IP1/TAB1 protein with this kinase. The substrates of this kinase include transcription regulator ATF2, MEF2C, and MAX, cell cycle regulator CDC25B, and tumor suppressor p53, which suggest the roles of this kinase in stress related transcription and cell cycle regulation, as well as in genotoxic stress response. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.