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The IGFs comprise a family of peptides that play important roles in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of growth hormone. Early studies showed that growth hormone did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin'. Three main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A, and somatomedin B. IGF-1 is a small protein secreted mostly but not exclusively by the liver and circulating in blood mostly as a complex with several IGF binding proteins. It has growth-regulating, insulin-like, and mitogenic functions and it is secreted in response to growth hormone stimulation.

Gastrokine-1 (GKN1) is a member of the gastrokine family. GKN1 has mitogenic activity and is involved in preserving the integrity of the gastric mucosal epithelium. GKN1 is down-regulated in human gastric cancer tissue in comparison to normal gastric mucosa. GKN1 is expressed in the stomach; however no expression is detected in cancer tissue or gastric cancer cell lines.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

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.

CD30 Ligand (TNFSF8) is a cytokine which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. The TNFSF8 cytokine is a ligand for TNFRSF8/CD30, which is a cell surface antigen and a marker for Hodgkin lymphoma and related hematologic malignancies. The employment of the TNFSF8 cytokine expressed on B cell surface has an inhibitory role in modulating Ig class switch. TNFSF8 enhances cell proliferation of some lymphoma cell lines, while inducing cell death and reducing cell proliferation of other lymphoma cell lines. The pleiotropic biological activities of the TNFSF8 cytokine on different CD30+ lymphoma cell lines has a pathophysiologic role in Hodgkin's and some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

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 this 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.

GM-CSF Receptor Beta, also known as CSF2RB is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family. CSF2RB is a high affinity receptor for interleukin-3, interleukin-5 as well as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. CSF2RB unique form of receptor assembly applies also to IL-3 and IL-5 receptors, providing a structural basis for understanding their activation mechanism which is essential for the development of therapeutics.

The somatomedins, IGFs, comprise a family of peptides that play important roles in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of GH. Early studies showed that GH did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin. Three main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2; MIM 147470), and somatomedin B.

A 88-kDa progranulin, also called proepithelin and PC cell-derived growth factor, is a single precursor protein of granulins which are a family of secreted, glycosylated peptides that are cleaved from a single precursor protein with 7.5 repeats of a highly conserved 12-cysteine granulin/epithelin motif. Granulins are a variety of active, 6 kDa peptides and named granulin A (epithelin 1), granulin B (epithelin 2), granulin C, etc. Both the peptides and intact progranulin protein regulate cell growth. However, different members of the granulin protein family may act as inhibitors, stimulators, or have dual actions on cell growth. Granulin family members are important in normal development, wound healing, and tumorigenesis.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-19 (FGF-19) is a member of the FGF family. FGF-19 interacts with FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 and FGFR4. T FGF-19 takes part in the suppression of bile acid biosynthesis through downregulation of CYP7A1 expression, following positive regulation of the JNK and EPK1/2 cascades. FGF-19 stimulates glucose uptake in adiposytes and is a high affinity, heparin dependent ligand for FGFR4.

GDP Dissociation Inhibitor 1 (GDI1) is expressed mainly in neural and sensory tissues. GDI1 regulates the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of nearly all Rab proteins by inhibiting the dissociation of GDP from them, and the subsequent binding of GTP to them. GDI1 is also promoting the dissociation of GDP-bound Rab proteins from the membrane and inhibits their activation. Mutations in GDI1 have been associated with X-linked nonspecific mental retardation.

GZMK is a part of a group of related serine proteases from the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Cytolytic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells have the outstanding ability to bind, recognize and lyse specific target cells. They defend their host by lysing cells bearing on their surface 'nonself' antigens, usually peptides or proteins resulting from infection by intracellular pathogens.

FGF8 is part of the fibroblast growth factor family. FGF family members have wide mitogenic and cell survival activities, and participate in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF8 supports androgen and anchorage independent growth of mammary tumor cells. FGF8 over expression increases tumor growth and angiogensis. The adult expression of FGF-8 gene is restricted to testes and ovaries. FGF8 functions as an embryonic epithelial factor. FGF8 takes part in midbrain and limb development, organogenesis, embryo gastrulation and left-right axis determination.

Dickkopf-related protein 3 (DKK3) belongs to the DKK protein family including Dkk-1, 2, 3 and -4. DKK3 is a 350 amino acid secreted glycoprotein which is comprised of an N-terminal signal peptide and 2 conserved cysteine-rich domains that are separated by a 12 amino acid linker region. DKK3 is involved in embryonic development through its inhibition of the WNT signaling pathway. DKK3 gene expression is decreased in a variety of cancer cell lines and it may act as a tumor suppressor gene.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

Adiponectin (247amino acids) is adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa and exclusively expressed in differentiated adipocytes. APM-1 (Acrp30 Mouse) is a member of the complement factor C1q family and consists of signal sequence, Non-homologous sequence, collagen domain and domain (gAcrp30).
Adiponectin expression is reduced in a variety of obese and insulin-resistant states in human, monkeys and mice. Injection of Acrp30 Mouse (247aa) or gAcrp30 (globular domain) lowers serum glucose and free fatty acid level in mice.

GAMT is a methyltransferase that transfers guanidoacetate to creatine, using S-adenosylmethionine as the methyl donor. Defects GAMT gene result in neurologic syndromes and muscular hypotonia, probably due to creatine deficiency and accumulation of guanidinoacetate in the brain of affected individuals. GAMT take parts in the two-step synthesis of creatine from the protein building blocks glycine, arginine, and methionine. GAMT takes part in supplying the energy for muscle contraction, and is in addition a significant player in nervous system functioning. GAMT is active in the liver, pancreas, and kidne.

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.

MGAT2 is an enzyme which takes part in the catalyzation of a crucial step in the reaction of oligomannose which converts to complex N-glycans. MGAT2 has three domains, classic to glycosyltransferase: short N-terminal cytoplasmic domain, a C-terminal catalytic domain and hydrophobic non-cleavable signal-anchor domain. The enzyme MGAT2 is encoded by the MGAT2 gene in humans. There are no introns in the DNA coding the gene, therefore mutations in the MGAT2 will result in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome, type II.

Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) antagonizes canonical Wnt signaling by inhibiting LRP5/6 interaction with Wnt and by creating a ternary complex with the transmembrane protein KREMEN which promotes internalization of LRP5/6. DKKs have a significant role in vertebrate development, where they locally inhibit Wnt controlled processes for instance antero-posterior axial patterning, limb development, somitogenesis and eye formation. Furthermore, Dkks are involved in bone formation and bone disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease in Adults.

Glutamyl-TRNA Amidotransferase, Subunit C also known as GATC allows the formation of properly charged Gln-tRNA(Gln) through the transamidation of misacylated Glu-tRNA(Gln) in the mitochondria. The reaction occurs in the attendance of glutamine and ATP through an activated gamma-phospho-Glu-tRNA(Gln). In addition, GATC is subunit of the heterotrimeric GatCAB amidotransferase (AdT) complex, composed of A (QRSL1), B (PET112) and C (GATC) subunits.

Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein Gamma 11 (GNG11) which belongs to the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) gamma family encodes a lipid-anchored, cell membrane protein. G proteins act as a modulator or transducer in various transmembrane signaling systems. GNG11 is also subject to carboxyl-terminal processing.

RGS19 is a member of RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) family and negatively regulates G protein coupled receptor signaling. RGS19 protein specifically cooperates with heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G alpha i3 (GAI3).

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.