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RANKL binds to tnfrsf11b/opg and to tnfrsf11a/rank. Osteoclast differentiation and activation factor. Augments the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate naive t-cell proliferation. May be an important regulator of interactions between t-cells and dendritic cells and may play a role in the regulation of the t-cell-dependent immune response. sRANKL may also play an important role in enhanced bone-resorption in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane.
CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes.
The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the IGFBPs.
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion.
Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy.
In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells.
CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGFBetas) mediate many cell-cell interactions which occur during embryonic development. Three TGFBetas have been identified in mammals. TGFBeta1, TGFBeta2 and TGFBeta3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins which are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide which remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule.

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.

FGF12 is part of the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) family which has a vast mitogenic and cell survival functions, and play a role in a range of biological activities, among them are embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth, and invasion. FGF-12 doesn’t obtain the N-terminal signal sequence present in the majority of the FGF family members, but it contains clusters of basic residues that act as a nuclear localization signal. When transfected into mammalian cells, FGF12 accumulated in the nucleus, but was not secreted. FGF12 is involved in nervous system development and function. FGF12 binds to IB2 (islet brain-2), a cellular kinase scaffold, and voltage gated sodium channels and is also involved in intracellular signaling and ion exchange.

Human Factor IX also called Christmas-Factor is a glycoprotein, which is synthesized in the liver and belongs to the serine proteases system and is part of the S1 peptidase family.
Lack of Factor-IX causes Hemophilia-B meaning Christmas Disease. Factor-IX has a N-terminus region which contains 12xGla residues which asist the calcium dpendant binding of Factor-IX to the phospholipid surface. Factor-IX is activated by either factor XIa or the factor VIIa/tissue factor/phospholipid complex. Cleavage yields the intermediate IXa, which is subsequently converted to the fully active form IXab.
Factor-IX binds initially to exosites on the factor XIa heavy chain, followed by interaction at the active site with subsequent bond cleavage. Coagulation factor IX is activated by interaction with the erythrocyte membrane, causing intrinsic coagulation. Chaperones & lectins act simultaniously to guarantee the proper folding of Factor-IX and the retention of mutant molecules. Human Factor IX, activated by either the Contact or Tissue Factor Pathway, is responsible for the activation of Factor X to Xa.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL5A or KIR2DL5A is part of the killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) family. KIR2DL5A is atype I transmembrane glycoprotein. The protein is detected on the cell membrane as a monomer who, once tyrosine is phosphorylated, recruits the Src homology region 2-includes protein tyrosine phosphatase-2. Hence, KIR2DL5A is an inhibitory receptor gathering a combination of genetic, structural, and functional features unique among KIR, suggesting that KIR2DL5A plays a crucial role in innate immunity.

RANK, is part of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. RANK is widely expressed with uppermost levels in the skeletal muscle, thymus, liver, colon, small intestine, adrenal gland as well as dendritic cells. Furthermore, in activated human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, RANK expression is induced by IL4 and TGF-b.

FGF-23 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. FGF-23 inhibits renal tubular phosphate transport. This gene was identified by its mutations associated with autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), an inherited phosphate wasting disorder. Abnormally high level expression of FGF23 was found in oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (OHO), a phenotypically similar disease caused by abnormal phosphate metabolism. Mutations FGF23 have also been shown to cause familial tumoral calcinosis with hyperphosphatemia.

ARL1 is part of the ARL (ADP-ribosylation factor-like) family of proteins, which are structurally associated to ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs). ARFs, described as activators of cholera toxin (CT) ADP-ribosyltransferase activity, control intracellular vesicular membrane trafficking, and stimulate a phospholipase D (PLD) isoform.
ARL1 is a weak stimulator of PLD and CT in a phospholipid dependent manner.
ARL1 is a GTP-binding protein that has low efficiency as allosteric activator of the cholera toxin catalytic subunit, an ADP-ribosyltransferase. ARL1 is involved in the Golgi apparatus.

EEF1A1 is an isoform of the alpha subunit of the elongation factor-1 complex, which is responsible forthe enzymatic release of aminoacyl tRNAs to the ribosome. EEF1A1 is expressed in brain, placenta, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas, and the other isoform (alpha 2) is expressed in brain, heart and skeletal muscle. EEF1A1 is recognized as an autoantigen in 66% of patients with Felty syndrome. EEF1A1 has multiple copies on numerous chromosomes, part of them, if not all, symbolize different pseudogenes. Among the diseases associated with EEF1A1 are tinea nigra and andcervical cancer.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 17 (FGF17) belongs to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members have broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in various biological processes including embryonic development cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. The FGF17 gene is highly expressed in the cerebellum and cortex. The mouse homolog of the FGF17 gene is localized to specific sites in the midline structures of the forebrain, the midbrain-hindbrain junction, developing skeleton and developing arteries, suggesting a role in central nervous system, bone and vascular development.

Leptin is a protein hormone. It is mainly produced in adipose cells that regulate energy homeostasis by restraining hunger. Leptin ties to nuclear receptors in the hypothalamus (arcuate nucleus). Similar to insulin resistance in type II diabetes, in obesity there is a decrease in the sensitivity towards leptin, ending in a failure to identify satiety, even in high levels of energy stores or leptin itself. Full-length cDNA encoding 2 leptin sequences (tLepA and tLepB) and 1 leptin receptor sequence (tLepR) exists in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The full-length cDNA of tLepR is 3423 bp, encoding a protein of 1140 amino acid which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate leptin receptors. The cDNAs of tLepA and tLepB are 486 bp and 459 bp in length, encoding proteins of 161 aa and 152 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of tLepA and tLepB demonstrates strong conservation of tertiary structure with that of human leptin comprised of 4 helixes.

NELL2 is expressed in large quantities in neural tissues and has a significant role in the development of neural tissues. In addition, NELL protein has six epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domains which plays a part in calcium binding.

Overexpression of the HIF1AN is linked with tumor aggressiveness in pancreatic endocrine tumors. HIF1AN hydroxylates Notch ICD at two residues that are crucial for the function of Notch ICD as a transactivator within cells and during neurogenesis and myogenesis. HIF1AN is commonly expressed in invasive breast carcinoma. The hypoxic response and survival recommends that tumour regulation of HIF1AN is an additional important mechanism for HIF pathway activation. HIF1AN is an asparaginyl hydroxylase enzyme that controls the transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor. FIH1 is a part of the Fe2+ and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase superfamily, FIH1 is protein that hydoxylates a specific asparagine residue (Asn-803) within the HIF1A C-terminal transactivation domain. In normoxia, the HIF1AN-mediated hydroxylation of the HIF1? transactivation domain which results in blockage of the HIF1A-p300/CBP interaction and represses transcriptional activity of HIF1A targeted genes.

ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 5B (ARL5B) is a member of a family of proteins which are structurally similar to ADP-ribosylation factors. ARLs and ARFs belong to the RAS superfamily of regulatory GTPases. ARL5B is most closely related to ARL5, with which it shares 80% sequence identity. Furthermore, Human ARL5B shares 100% identity with mouse ARL8 and 71% identity with the Drosophila homolog.

ARL4A is related Specifically to ARL6 and ARL7 and belongs to the ARF-like protein (ARL) subfamily of small GTPases. However, unlike ARFs, ARL4 does not activate the cholera toxin ADP-ribosyltranferase. ARL4A takes part in neurogenesis during embryonic development and somitogenesis in the early stages of adult spermatogenesis.

WIF1 binds to wnt proteins and inhibits their activities. WIF1 plays a role in mesoderm segmentation. WNT proteins are extracellular signaling molecules that take part in the control of embryonic development & cancer. WIF1 protein contains a WNT inhibitory factor (WIF) domain and 5 epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains. WIF1 takes part in mesoderm segmentation. WIF1 protein is found to be present in fish, amphibia and mammals. WIF1 is a recurrent target in human salivary gland oncogenesis. Downregulation of WIF1 takes part in the development and progression of pleomorphic adenomas. WIF1 is a tumor suppressor, specifically in nonfunctioning pituitary tumors.

Nuclear transport factor 2-like export factor 2 (NXT2) belongs to the NXT family proteins which are commonly involved in exporting nuclear RNA in eukaryotic cells. The NXT2 protein is a regulator of protein export for NES-containing proteins. In addition, NXT2 associates with NXF1, NXF2, NXF3 and NXF5 and has a role in mRNA nuclear export. NXT2 has a critical role in upholding morphogenetic integrity of embryonic heart in vertebrate species. The NXT2 protein contains a nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF2) domain, which has a vital role in the trafficking of macromolecules, ions, and small molecules between the cytoplasm and nucleus, it may also have a role in mRNA nuclear export.

TNFRSF14, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is a type I transmembrane protein. TNFRSF14 is expressed in peripheral blood T cells, B cells, monocytes and in various tissues enriched in lymphoid cells. TNFRSF14 operates as a co-stimulatory factor for the activation of lymphoid cells and as a deterrent to infection by herpesvirus. Additionally, TNFRSF14 encourages the proliferation of T cells, and triggers apoptosis of various tumor cells.

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. MCSF induces cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. MCSF plays a role in immunological defenses, bone metabolism, lipoproteins clearance, fertility and pregnancy.

PLGF is a growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration. It binds to receptor vegfr-1/flt1.

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.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF Betas) mediate many cell-cell interactions that occur during embryonic development. Three TGF Betas have been identified in mammals. TGF Beta 1, TGF Beta 2 and TGF Beta 3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins that are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide that remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule.