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TGFBI is an extracellular matrix protein induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1. TGFBI protein is involved in cell growth, cell differentiation, wound healing and cell adhesion. In addition, some missense mutations of TGFBI were identified in families affected with human autosomal dominant corneal dystrophies. TGFBI gene encodes for a 683 amino-acid protein containing an RGD motif and four internal repeated domains which have highly conserved sequences founded in several species (Fasciclin domain).

Prolactin is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized primarily by the pituitary gland but also a variety of other cell types including the placenta, brain and uterus. Its primary function is to promote and maintain lactation but has also been shown to have a role in breast cancer development, regulation of reproductive function and immunoregulation.

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.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

GDF-11 belongs to the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. GDF-11 is a central developmental factor which controls muscular and neural development. In adults, GDF-11 encourages cardiac hypertrophy reverse by the revival of cardiomyocytes.

TGFB-Induced Factor Homeobox 2-Like Y-Linked (TGIF2LY) is a part of the TALE/TGIF homeobox family of transcription factors. TGIF2LY is located in the male specific region of chromosome Y, in a block of sequence which is the outcome of a large X-to-Y transposition. TGIF2LY act as a regulator of TGIF2LX due to the fact that the C-terminus of TGIF2LY is different from that of its chromosome X homolog (TGIF2LX). TGIF2LY has also a transcription role in testis.

Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (M CSF) or colony stimulating factor 1, is a cytokine, that promoted differentiation in hematopoietic stem cells to macrophages. Another role of M CSF is to bind to its receptor (colony stimulating factor 1 receptor) and to take part in placenta growth and development.

GM-CSF Receptor Alpha (CSF2RA) is the alpha subunit of the heterodimeric receptor for colony stimulating factor 2, a cytokine which controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. CSFR2 is also a member of the cytokine family of receptors. In addition, this gene is found in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of the X and Y chromosomes. Multiple transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene, while some of the isoforms being membrane-bound and others being soluble. Diseases associated with CSF2RA include surfactant metabolism dysfunction, pulmonary 4, and csf2ra-related pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction.

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.

Epidermal Growth Factor­like Domain Multiple 6 (EGFL6) belongs to the EGF repeat superfamily of proteins, whose members are involved in the regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, and developmental processes. EGFL6 gene product contains a signal peptide, suggesting that EGFL6 is secreted; an EGF repeat region consisting of four complete EGF-like repeats and 1 partial EGF-like repeat, 3 of which have a calcium-binding consensus sequence; an arg-gly-asp integrin association motif; and a MAM domain, which is assumed to have an adhesive function. Within shared regions, human EGFL6 shares 75% and 78% amino acid sequence identity with the mouse and rat orthologs, respectively. EGFL6 is expressed in various fetal tissues during early development such as the lung, heart, liver, spleen, cochlea and the placenta, as well as meningioma tumors.

POU2AF1 is a lymphocyte specific transcription coactivator protein. POU2AF1 cooperates only with the Oct1/2 proteins using sub domains in the POU domain of the Oct1/2 proteins, increasing their transcriptional efficiency. Even though POU2AF1 have no basic ability to bind DNA, it links firmly with the octomer motif in the presence of Oct1 and Oct2. POU2AF1 is expressed at maximum levels in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Growth Hormone Binding Protein or GHR, is a protein, part of the cytokine receptor superfamily. GHR binds to 2 receptors, therefore it enhances signal transduction via dimerization of receptors. In elevated levels, growth hormone operates as an antagonist due to high variance in the binding sites affinities. The antagonist operation can be embellished even more when the binding site is reduced its affinity.

IGF-2 is a member of the INS family of polypeptide growth factors that is involved in development and growth. It is an imprinted gene and is expressed only from the paternally inherited allele. It is a candidate gene for eating disorders. There is a read-through, INS-IGF2, which aligns to this gene at the 3' region and to the upstream INS gene at the 5' region. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene.

All three VEGF receptors belong to the class III subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) characterised by the seven immunoglobulin-like loops in the extracellular domain. The expression of VEGFR-1 to -3 is almost exclusively restricted to hematopoietic precursor cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells and to the monocyte/macrophage lineage. They play key roles in vasculogenesis, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The FLT-4 cDNA encodes a 1298 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 23 aa residue signal peptide. Mature VEGFR-3/FLT-4 is composed of a 751 aa residue extracellular domain, a 22 aa transmembrane domain and a 482 aa residue cytoplasmic domain. Both VEGF family members VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been shown to bind and activate VEGFR-3/FLT-4. The Flt-4 gene is widely expressed in the early embryo but becomes restricted to the lymphatic endothelial a latter stages of development. It is important for lymphangiogenesis.

GDF10 is a member of the BMP family and the TGF-beta superfamily. GDF10 is expressed in femur, brain, lung, skeletal, muscle, pancreas and testis, and has a role in head formation and possibly multiple roles in skeletal morphogenesis. In humans, GDF10 mRNA is found in the cochlea and lung of fetuses, and in testis, retina, pineal gland, and other neural tissues of adults. The BMP family members are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. These proteins are characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing 7 conserved cysteine residues.

IGFBP6 plays a role in lipoprotein assembly and dietary cholesterol absorption. in addition to its acyltransferase activity, it may act as a ligase. may provide cholesteryl esters for lipoprotein secretion from hepatocytes and intestinal mucosa.

GM-CSF Receptor Alpha (CSF2RA) is the alpha subunit of the heterodimeric receptor for colony stimulating factor 2, a cytokine which controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. CSFR2 is also a member of the cytokine family of receptors. In addition, this gene is found in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) of the X and Y chromosomes. Multiple transcript variants encoding various isoforms have been found for this gene, while some of the isoforms being membrane-bound and others being soluble. Diseases associated with CSF2RA include surfactant metabolism dysfunction, pulmonary 4, and csf2ra-related pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction.

Placental Lactogen is a polypeptide hormone that is produced by the Syncytiotrophoblasts of the Placenta, also known as chorionic somatomammotropin. It has both Growth Hormone and Prolactin activities on growth, lactation, and luteal steroid production. In women, placental lactogen secretion begins soon after implantation and increases to 1 g or more a day in late pregnancy. Placental lactogen is also an insulin antagonist.
Placental Lactogen Ovine is also capable of activating human and other heterologous GH receptors but not ruminat GH receptors.

MIA2 performs as a tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma. MIA2is a novel acute phase protein which its expression is found in the liver and reacts to liver damage in chronic liver diseases and is considerably higher in severe fibrosis patients . MIA2 is induced by IL6, TGF-B & and conditioned medium from activated hepatic stellate cells. MIA2 is is mainly expressed in hepatocytes.

GHBP is a transmembrane receptor for growth hormone. Binding of growth hormone to the receptor leads to receptor dimerization and the activation of an intra- and intercellular signal transduction pathway leading to growth. A common alternate allele of this gene, called GHRd3, lacks exon three and has been well-characterized. Mutations in this gene have been associated with Laron syndrome, also known as the growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS), a disorder characterized by short stature. Other splice variants, including one encoding a soluble form of the protein (GHRtr), have been observed but have not been thoroughly characterized.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Prolactin is a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized primarily by the pituitary gland but also a variety of other cell types including the placenta, brain and uterus. Its primary function is to promote and maintain lactation but has also been shown to have a role in breast cancer development, regulation of reproductive function and immunoregulation.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a family of at least eighteen structurally related proteins that are involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, angiogenesis, wound healing and tumorgenesis. The biological activities of the FGFs are mediated by a family of type I transmembrane tyrosine kinases which undergo dimerization and autophosphorylation after ligand binding. Four distinct genes encoding closely related FGF receptors, FGF R1 - 4, are known. All four genes for FGF Rs encode proteins with an N-terminal signal peptide, three immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains, an acid-box region containing a run of acidic residues between the IgI and IgII domains, a transmembrane domain and the split tyrosine-kinase domain. Multiple forms of FGF R1 - 3 are generated by alternative splicing of the mRNAs. A frequent splicing event involving FGF R1 and 2 results in receptors containing all three Ig domains, referred to as the a isoform, or only IgII and IgIII, referred to as the b isoform. Only the a isoform has been identified for FGF R3 and FGF R4. Additional splicing events for FGF R1 - 3, involving the C-terminal half of the IgIII domain encoded by two mutually exclusive alternative exons, generate FGF receptors with alternative IgIII domains (IIIb and IIIc). A IIIa isoform which is a secreted FGF binding protein containing only the N-terminal half of the IgIII domain plus some intron sequences has also been reported for FGF R1. Mutations in FGF R1 - 3 have been found in patients with birth defects involving craniosynostosis. The complex patterns of expression of these receptors as well as the specificity of their interactions with the various FGF ligand family members are under investigation.