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Stem cell factor / KIT ligand (SCF) is a cytokine which binds CD117 (c-Kit). SCF is also known as "steel factor" or "c-kit ligand". SCF exists in two forms, cell surface bound SCF and soluble (or free) SCF. Soluble SCF is produced by the cleavage of surface bound SCF by metalloproteases.
SCF is a growth factor important for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. One of its roles is to change the BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) cells, which are the earliest erythrocyte precursors in the erythrocytic series, into the CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid).

PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB, are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types including smooth muscle cells, connective tissue cells, bone and cartilage cells, and some blood cells. The PDGF is stored in platelet alpha-granules and released upon platelet activation. The PDGF is involved in a number of biological processes, including hyperplasia, chemotaxis, embryonic neuron development, and respiratory tubule epithelial cell development. Two distinct signaling receptors used by PDGF have been identified and named PDGFR-alpha and PDGFR-beta. PDGFR-alpha is high-affinity receptor for each of the three PDGF forms. On the other hand, PDGFR-beta interacts with only PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB.

Macrophage Scavenger Receptor 1, also known as MSR1 is a member of the class A macrophage scavenger receptors, which comprises three different types 1, 2 and 3 generated by alternative splicing. Furthermore, these receptors or isoforms are macrophage-specific trimeric integral membrane glycoproteins and have been implicated in many macrophage-associated physiological as well as pathological processes which include atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and host defense.

Myostatin (GDF-8), a member of the TGFbeta superfamily, is a potent and specific negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. In serum, myostatin circulates as part of a latent complex containing myostatin propeptide and/or follistatin-related gene. The myostatin propeptide is known to bind and inhibit myostatin in vitro. This interaction is relevant in vivo, with a majority (>70%) of myostatin in serum bound to its propeptide. The myostatin propeptide is negative regulator of myostatin in vivo.

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.

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.

Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) acts as a transcription factor and takes part in the initiation of neuronal differentiation. TCF4 recognizes an Ephrussi-box ('E-box') binding site ('CANNTG') - a motif primary identified in immunoglobulin enhancers. TCF4 is mainly expressed in pre-B-cells, even though it is present in other tissues as well.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains. TFF3 induces ciliogenesis and promotes airway epithelial ciliated cell differentiation, relatively through an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent pathway. TFF3 overexpression is crucial for progression in mouse and human hepatocellular carcinogenesis. TFF-3 is normally expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and its expression associates with tumor grade.

TGFB1-induced anti-apoptotic factor 1 (TIAF1) hinders the cytotoxic effects of TNF-alpha and overexpressed TNF receptor adapters TRADD, FADD, and RIPK1. The TIAF1 protein is involved in TGF-beta1 inhibition of IkappaB-alpha expression and suppression of TNF-mediated IkappaB-alpha degradation. TIAF1 is not detected in normal kidney and liver. TIAF1 is up-regulated in chronic and acute allograft rejection: expressed in the inflammatory infiltrate and in tubular epithelial cells.

MGP is vital for the regulation of calcification in the extracellular matrix, particularly in cartilage and arteries. The K-dependent vitamin MGP has five to six residues of Gla, a Ca2+ binding amino acid crucial for vitamin K-dependent gamma carboxylase for its formation. MGP is formed by COOH-terminal processing by carboxypeptidase B-like enzymatic activity and localized in the human bone.

Acyl-CoA synthetase family member 2, also known as ACSF2 is a member of the ATP-dependent AMP-binding enzyme family. Acyl-CoA synthetases are a family of enzymes which catalyze the thioesterification of fatty acids with coenzymeA to form activated intermediates, which play a basic part in lipid metabolism as well as homeostasis of lipid-related processes. ACSF2 is required for the complex of lipid synthesis, energy production via beta-oxidation, protein acylation and fatty-acid dependent transcriptional regulation. Moreover, ACSF2 is required for fatty acid import into cells by the process of vectorial acylation.

Adipocyte plasma membrane-associated protein, also known as APMAP, is a member of the strictosidine synthase family. APMAP exhibits strong arylesterase activity with beta-naphthyl acetate in addition to phenyl acetate and takes part in adipocyte differentiation.

ADP-ribosylation factor 3 (ARF3) belongs to the human ARF gene family. This family encodes small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins which stimulate the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of cholera toxin and have a role in vesicular trafficking and as activators of phospholipase D. ARF3 functions as an allosteric activator of the cholera toxin catalytic subunit, an ADP-ribosyltransferase. ARF3 is involved in protein trafficking; may modulate vesicle budding and uncoating within the Golgi apparatus. The ARF3 gene is comprised of 5 exons and 4 introns.

NDUFS4 is a subunit of the mitochondrial membrane respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), the primary multi-subunit enzyme complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Complex I is involved in cellular ATP production, the main source of energy for numerous vital processes in living cells. NDUFS4 removes electrons from NADH and passes them by a series of diverse protein-coupled redox centers to the electron acceptor ubiquinone. NDUFS4 presents a hotspot of mutations in the genetic apparatus of oxidative phosphorylation and the correct assembly of the subunit it encodes is essential for completion of the assembly of complex I.

Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 2 (EEF2) which is necessary factor for protein synthesis is a part of the GTP-binding translation elongation factor family. EEF2 catalyzes the GTP-dependent ribosomal translocation step during translation elongation. EEF2 is also catalyzes the coordinated movement of the mRNA as well as the 2 tRNA molecules and conformational changes in the ribosome. EF-2 kinase phosporylation inactivates the EEF2 protein.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains.

JUN N-terminal Kinase 2is 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 targets specific transcription factors, and thus mediates immediate-early gene expression in response to various cell stimuli. It is most closely related to MAPK8, both of which are involved in UV radiation induced apoptosis, thought to be related to the cytochrome c-mediated cell death pathway. This gene and MAPK8 are also known as c-Jun N-terminal kinases. This kinase blocks the ubiquitination of tumor suppressor p53, and thus it increases the stability of p53 in nonstressed cells. Studies of this gene's mouse counterpart suggest a key role in T-cell differentiation. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

CDNF is a member of the ARMET family and acts as a trophic factor for dopamine neurons. CDNF inhibits the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. When CDNF controlled after 6-OHDA-lesioning, it reestablishes the dopaminergic function and inhibits the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. CDNF is universally expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. The highest levels in the brain are found in the optic nerve and corpus callosum.

Complement Factor B, also known as CFB, encodes complement factor B which is a component of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Factor B circulates in the blood as a single chain polypeptide. Once the alternative pathway is activated it is cleaved by complement factor D yielding the noncatalytic chain Ba and the catalytic subunit Bb. The active subunit Bb is a serine protease which connects with C3b to form the alternative pathway C3 convertase. Also, Bb is involved in the proliferation of preactivated B lymphocytes, while Ba inhibits their proliferation.

Gametocyte Specific Factor 1 (GTSF1) is a member of the UPF0224 (FAM112) family and contains 1 CHHC-type zinc finger. A key paralog of the GTSF1 gene is GTSF1L.

MAP1LC3B is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. MAP1LC3B is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, that are involved in microtubule assembly and important for neurogenesis. In addition, MAP1LC3B takes part in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles and is expressed mainly in heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

Ras association domain-containing protein 3 (RASSF3) is a ubiquitously expressed protein found in normal and cancerous tissues. RASSF3 is a member of RASSF family whose members contain a highly conserved Ras association domain (Ral GDS/AF-6 or RA) and function as Ras effectors/tumor suppressors. RASSF3 contains an N-terminal RA domain and a coiled-coil SARAH domain and may have 3 isoforms (RASSF3A, RASSF3B and RASSF3C) due to alternative splicing. RASSF3B and RASSF3C are shorter than RASSF3A and do not contain the RA and SARAH domain.

Mannose-binding protein C (MBL2), belongs to the collectin family of patternrecognition molecules and is an important component in the innate immune system. MBL2 is a secreted glycoprotein which recognizes mannose and N-acetylglucosamine on various microorganisms, and is capable of activating the classical complement pathway. Lacking MBL2 has been associated with susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases.

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, tumorigenesisand 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.