Search results

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as eotaxin. CCL11 selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of CCL11 are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which CCL11 is a ligand include CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. The gene for human CCL11 (scya11) is encoded on three exons and is located on chromosome 17.

Vps20-associated 1 homolog (VTA1) is a member of the VTA1 family. The VTA1 protein is involved in the endosomal multivesicular bodies (MVB) pathway. Furthermore, VTA1 is interacts with CHMP1B, CHMP2A, CHMP5, VPS4B, KIAA0174 (IST1) and possibly CHMP3. VTA1 is believed to be a cofactor of VPS4A/B, which catalyzes membrane-associated ESCRT-III assemblies. In addition, VTA1 is involved in the sorting and down-regulation of EGFR and also in HIV-1 budding.

Seryl-tRNA synthetase, cytoplasmic (SARS) is a member of the class-II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases’ role is to catalyze the aminoacylation of tRNAs by their corresponding amino acids, as a result linking amino acids with tRNA-contained nucleotide triplets. The SARS enzyme catalyzes the attachment of serine to tRNA (Ser). SARS enzyme is probably able to aminoacylate tRNA (Sec) with serine, to form the misacylated tRNA L-seryl-tRNA (Sec), which will be then converted into selenocysteinyl-tRNA (Sec).

HPCAL1, participates in neuron-specific calcium-binding proteins family found in the retina and brain. HPCAL1 is extremely comparable to human hippocalcin protein and almost equal to the rat and mouse hippocalcin like-1 proteins. HPCAL1 takes part in the calcium-dependent regulation of rhodopsin phosphorylation and can have importance in neuronal signalling in the central nervous system.

ANXA1 is part of the family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins which have a Mw between 35kDa-40kDa and are situated on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. ANXA1 protein has a Mw of 40kDa, with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity to bind from two to four calcium ions with high affinity. Since phospholipase A2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, ANXA1 might have potential anti-inflammatory activity. ANXA1 promotes membrane fusion and iplays a role in exocytosis. The recognition of ANXA1 protein by immunocytochemical leads a simple, highly sensitive and specific assay for diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.

Chlamydia is a common term for infection with any bacterium belonging to the phylum Chlamydiae. This term derives from the name of the bacterial genusChlamydiain the family Chlamydiaceae, order Chlamydiales, class and phylum Chlamydiae. There are two genera in Chlamydiaceae: Chlamydia and Chlamydophila. The genus Chlamydia includes three species: C. trachomatis, C. muridarum, and C. suis.

Myeloid differentiation antigen Gr1 (Ly6G) is a GPI-anchored protein, which is briefly expressed on monocytes in the bone marrow. The level of the Ly6G expression in the bone marrow completely correlates with granulocyte differentiation and maturation. Ly6G ligation on murine neutrophils inhibits neutrophil recruitment, thus providing the first evidence of a function for the Ly6G molecule. Ly6G is seen primarily on neutrophils, also in a subgroup of eosinophils, differentiating pre-monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

ReoVirus belongs to the RNA virus family of Reoviridae. The virions of reoviruses lack an outer envelope and show spheroidal. They measure approximately 70 nanometres and have two icosahedral capsids. Reoviruses enclose a core of segmented, double-stranded RNA virus and are a non-pathogenic naturally occurring virus. Approximately 100% of the population demonstrate signs of a previous reovirus infection, normally confined to the gastrointestinal or respiratory systems in the body. Reovirus particularly targets cells with a highly activated Ras signaling pathway and hence is a potent cancer killer.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11 (CXCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokinen family that is also called inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC) and (IP-9). I-TAC is highly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, pancreas and liver, with moderate levels in thymus, spleen and lung and low expression levels were in small intestine, placenta and prostate. Gene expression of CXCL11 is strongly induced by IFN-g and IFN-b, and weakly induced by IFN-a. The I-TAC chemokine elicits its effects on its target cells by interacting with the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3, with a higher affinity than do the other ligands for this receptor, CXCL9 and CXCL10. I-TAC is chemotactic for activated T cells. The CXCL11 gene is located on human chromosome 4 along with many other members of the CXC chemokine family.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11 (CXCL11) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokinen family. I-TAC is highly expressed in peripheral blood leukocytes, pancreas and liver, with moderate levels in thymus, spleen and lung and low expression levels were in small intestine, placenta and prostate. Gene expression of CXCL11 is strongly induced by IFN-g and IFN-b, and weakly induced by IFN-a. The I-TACchemokine elicits its effects on its target cells by interacting with the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3, with a higher affinity than do the other ligands for this receptor, CXCL9 and CXCL10. I-TAC is chemotactic for activated T cells.The CXCL11 gene is located on human chromosome 4 along with many other members of the CXC chemokine family.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 5 (CXCL5) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as epithelial-derived neutrophil-activating peptide 78 (ENA-78). It is produced following stimulation of cells with the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Expression of CXCL5 has also been observed in eosinophils, and can be inhibited with the type II IFN. This chemokine stimulates the chemotaxis of neutrophils possesses angiogenic properties. It elicits these effects by interacting with the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR2. The gene for CXCL5 is encoded on four exons and is located on human chromosome 4 amongst several other CXC chemokine genes. CXCL5 has been implicated in connective tissue remodelling.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.
It has recently been shown that SARS is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness in humans, such as the common cold. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The most prominent protein in the culture supernatants infected with SARS virus is a 46 kDa nucleocapsid protein. This suggests that the nucleocapsid protein is a major immunogen that may be useful for early diagnostics.

Streptolysin-O is a sulfhydryl-activated toxin which causes cytolysis by forming pores in cholesterol containing host membranes. After binding to target membranes, the Streptolysin-O protein undergoes a major conformation change, leading to its insertion in the host membrane and creation of an oligomeric pore complex. Cholesterol may be needed for binding to host membranes, membrane insertion and pore formation. Streptolysin-O can be reversibly inactivated by oxidation.

EBI3 has an induced expression in B lymphocytes in reaction to Epstein-Barr virus infection. EBI3 encodes a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the hematopoietin receptor family, and heterodimerizes with a 28 kDa protein to form iIL-27. EBI3 drives rapid clonal expansion of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 strongly synergizes with IL-12 to activate IFN-gamma production of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 mediates its biologic effects through the cytokine receptor wsx-1/tccr.

EBI3 has an induced expression in B lymphocytes in reaction to Epstein-Barr virus infection. EBI3 encodes a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the hematopoietin receptor family, and heterodimerizes with a 28 kDa protein to form iIL-27. EBI3 drives rapid clonal expansion of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 strongly synergizes with IL-12 to activate IFN-gamma production of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 mediates its biologic effects through the cytokine receptor wsx-1/tccr.

Chitinase 3-Like 2 (CHI3L2) is similar to bacterial chitinases but lacks chitinase activity. CHI3L2 protein is secreted and is involved in cartilage biogenesis. CHI3L2 is a lectin, which binds chitooligosaccharides and other glycans with high affinity, but not heparin.

Thyroxine binding globulin, also known as SERPINA7, is synthesized in the liver and carried in the blood.
SERPINA7 may be decreased or increased in a number of diseases. Its main value in diagnosis is to assess thyroid function by determining the amount of free T3/T4.
Thyroxine binding globulin, binds and transports thyroid hormones in the circulation. SERPINA7 carries the majority of the T3/T4 in the blood. SERPINA7 has only one binding site for T3/T4 and about 25% of Thyroxine binding globulin is usually saturated.

Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor, 3 Domains Long Cytoplasmic Tail 2 (KIR3DL2) is a type 1 transmembrane protein of the p70 family of killer cell Ig-like receptors. KIR3DL2 is a receptor on NK cells for HLA-A alleles which Inhibits their activity consequently preventing cell lysis.

Myxovirus Resistance 1, also known as MX1 is a guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-metabolizing protein which takes part in the cellular antiviral response. MX1 is induced by type I and type II IFN, and also antagonizes the replication process of some different RNA & DNA viruses. In addition, there is a related gene located adjacent to MX1 on chromosome 21, and there are multiple pseudogenes positioned in a cluster on chromosome 4.

MX2 is a member of 2 protein families: the dynamin family and the large GTPases family. MX2 has a cytoplasmic and nuclear structure which is found in a granular pattern in the heterochromatin region under the nuclear envelope. The nuclear form has a NLS (nuclear localization signal) at the amino terminal end however it is missing in the cytoplasmic form as a result of the use of a different translation start codon. MX2 is upregulated by IFN-a, but unlike myxovirus resistance protein 1 has no antiviral activity.

Alpha-synuclein or SNCA is a synuclein protein. SNCA mainly found in the brain, small concentration of the protein can also be located in other tissues such as heart and muscle. When looking in the brain tissue, SNCA is located in the end of the neuron, in an area called presynaptic terminal. In the presynaptic terminal SNCA has interaction with phospholipids & other proteins. Neurotransmitters are released from the synaptic vesicles in the Presynaptic terminals and act as messengers. Once released, the neurotransmitters send signals across the neurons that are crucial for the brain’s operation.

CFI cleaves and inactivates C3b and C4b. CFI is inactive without a cofactor such as the soluble factor H and C4b binding protein. CFI cleaves the alpha-peptide chain of C3b and C4b when these binds1 of the cofactors. This cleavage inactivates all of the complement activating functions of these proteins producing iC3b and iC4b.CFI cleaves the alpha chain of C3b twice and this releases a small fragment called C3f. CFI can cleave iC3b releasing C3c from C3dg in the presence of CR1.C4b is cleaved rapidly at 2 sites separating C4c from C4d.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria which colonizes in the human stomach and stimulates gastric mucosal inflammations leading to acute gastritis-associated diseases among them are atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer.

H. pylori is found in half of the world’s population and is defined as a group I carcinogens. .

An important virulence factor of H. pylori is Cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) which is located at the end of an approximately 40-kb cluster of genes called cag pathoge¬nicity island (PAI).

Cag PAI encodes a type-IV secretion system and transfers CagA protein into the intracellular region of gastric epithelial cell.

This relocation induces cellular hyper proliferation, apoptosis and leading to failure of gastric epithelial cell in maintaining its normal cytoskeletal structure. Furthermore it increases the secretion of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL) 1, 6 and 8 by the epithelial cells.

The IL-8 leads to extreme inflammatory responses and also stimulates the production of oxygen free radicals that could cause DNA damage to adjacent cells and lead to genetic modifications of gastric epithelial cells which are carcinogenic.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.