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The clinical use of the potent anti-tumor activity of TNF-a has been limited by the proinflammatory side effects including fever, dose-limiting hypotension, hepatotoxicity, intravascular thrombosis, and hemorrhage. Designing clinically applicable TNF-a mutants with low systemic toxicity has been an intense pharmacological interest. Human TNF-a, which binds to the murine TNF-R55 but not to the mouse TNF-R75, exhibits retained anti-tumor activity and reduced systemic toxicity in mice compared with murine TNF-a, which binds to both murine TNF receptors. Based on these results, many TNF-? mutants that selectively bind to TNF-R55 have been designed. These mutants displayed cytotoxic activities on tumor cell lines in vitro, and exhibited lower systemic toxicity in vivo.
Recombinant Human TNF-a Variant/Mutant compared with the wild-type, has an amino acid sequence deletion from a.a. 1-7, and the following a.a. substitutes Arg8, Lys9, Arg10 and Phe157 which is proven tohave more activity and with less inflammatory side effect in vivo.

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 signalling and ion exchange.

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.

SUMF1 is a part of the SUMF protein family. SUMF1 catalyzes the hydrolysis of sulfate esters by oxidizing a cysteine residue in the substrate sulfatase to an active site 3-oxoalanine residue called C-alpha-formylglycine. Mutations in this gene will cause multiple sulfatase deficiency meaning a lysosomal storage disorder.

Ganglioside GM2 activator (GM2A) is a small glycolipid transport protein which functions as a substrate specific co-factor for the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase A. GM2A participates in lipid metabolism. GM2A protein is localized in lysosomes. The GM2A protein forms a large binding pocket for a number of single chain phospholipids and fatty acids. GM2A demonstrates calcium-independent phospholipase activity. GM2A stimulates ganglioside GM2 degradation by presenting GM2 to beta-hexosaminidase A. The Beta-hexosaminidase A, along with GM2A, catalyzes the degradation of the ganglioside GM2, and other molecules containing terminal N-acetyl hexosamines. GM2A gene mutations result in GM2-gangliosidosis type AB or the AB variant of Tay-Sachs disease.

NT3 a member of the neurotrophin family, that controls survival and differentiation of mammalian neurons. This protein is closely related to both nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It may be involved in the maintenance of the adult nervous system, and may affect development of neurons in the embryo when it is expressed in human placenta. NTF3-deficient mice generated by gene targeting display severe movement defects of the limbs. The mature peptide of this protein is identical in all mammals examined including human, pig, rat and mouse.

GDF8 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. This gene is thought to encode a secreted protein which negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth.

Tissue factor is well-known as the main cellular initiator of blood coagulation. The Tissue factor gene encodes coagulation factor III which is a cell surface glycoprotein that enables cells to initiate the blood coagulation cascades, and functions as the high-affinity receptor for the coagulation factor VII. Following vessel injury, the Tissue Factor and Factor VIIa complex activates the coagulation protease cascade, which leads to fibrin deposition and activation of platelets. The ensuing complex presents a catalytic event, which is responsible for initiation of the coagulation protease cascades by specific limited proteolysis. Therefore, Tissue factor has a role in normal hemostasis by initiating the cell-surface assembly and propagation of the coagulation protease cascade. Tissue Factor can also be stimulated by the inflammatory mediators interleukin 1 and TNF, as well as by endotoxin, to appear on monocytes and vascular endothelial cells as a component of cellular immune response.
Tissue factor is the only one in the coagulation pathway for which a congenital deficiency has not been described. Certain levels of Tissue Factor are essential for the maintained viability and growth of endothelium and Tissue Factor-expressing tumor cells. Additionally, abnormal Tissue Factor expression inside the vasculature initiates life threatening thrombosis in various diseases, for example sepsis, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Alternative spliced Tissue Factor expression advances tumor growth, and is linked to increased tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer.

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.

TNFSF15 is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, but is not expressed in either B or T cells. The expression of TNFSF15 is inducible by TNF and IL-1 alpha. This cytokine is a ligand for receptor TNFRSF25 and decoy receptor TNFRSF21/DR6. It can activate NF-kappaB and MAP kinases, and acts as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. TNFSF15 is also found to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, and thus may function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. An additional isoform encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript variant has been reported but the sequence of this transcript has not been determined.

PSME3 is a member of the PA28 family. The 26S proteasome is an extremely organized multicatalytic proteinase complex composed of 2 complexes, a 20S core and a 19S regulator. Proteasomes are spread all over the eukaryotic cells in large quantities and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway. PSME3 stimulates the trypsin-like catalytic subunit of the proteasome and inhibits the chymotrypsin-like and postglutamyl-preferring (PGPH) subunits. PSEM3 enables the MDM2-p53/TP53 collaboration that encourages ubiquitination- and MDM2-dependent proteasomal degradation of p53/TP53, restricting its growth and causing inhibited apoptosis after DNA damage.

Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor-Like 1, also known as LZTFL1 is a ubiquitously expressed protein which localizes to the cytoplasm. LZTFL1 interacts with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome proteins (BBS) and during its interaction with BBS protein complexes, regulates protein trafficking to the ciliary membrane. Nonsense mutations in LZTFL1 cause a form of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome; a ciliopathy characterized partly by polydactyly, obesity, cognitive impairment, hypogonadism, and kidney failure. LZTFL1 also acts as a tumor suppressor; possibly by interacting with E-cadherin as well as the actin cytoskeleton and in this manner regulating the transition of epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor 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. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The heparin-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

PDGF-BB is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family. The four members of this family are mitogenic factors for cells of mesenchymal origin and are characterized by a motif of eight cysteines. This gene product can exist either as a homodimer (PDGF-BB) or as a heterodimer with the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide (PDGF-AB), where the dimers are connected by disulfide bonds. Mutations in this gene are associated with meningioma. Reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 22 and 7, at sites where this gene and that for COL1A1 are located, are associated with a particular type of skin tumor called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resulting from unregulated expression of growth factor. Two splice variants have been identified for this gene.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor 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. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

TRAIL Receptor-1 (DR4) and TRAIL Receptor-2(DR5) are members of the TNFR superfamily of transmembrane proteins and contain a cytoplasmic "death domain", which is capable of activating the cell's apoptotic machinery. These receptors are activated by binding to either membrane anchored or soluble TRAIL/Apo2L.

Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase is a member of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, key enzymes of protein biosynthesis which charge tRNA molecules with the respective amino acids. This 83 kDa protein is an autoantigen recognized by PL-7 antibodies which occur in a subset of patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Preliminary data suggest that PL-7 antibodies (similar to Jo-1 antibodies) indicate an increased risk for lung involvement, but this needs to be confirmed for a larger number of cases.

HTATIP2 is part of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family which acts as a tumor suppressor in metabolic suppression, inhibition of angiogenesis and induces the expression of apoptosis related genes Bad and Siva. HTATIP2 cooperates with the activation domain of HIV-1 TAT and enhances its transcription by phosphorylating RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Defects in HTATIP2 are related with hepatocellular carcinomas and apoptotic resistant tumor cells, implicating a probable use for HTATIP2 in antitumor therapy.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-?, and IL-6, that modulate insulin sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which fat tissue induces insulin resistance and the role of adipocytokines in the pathogenesis of T2DM have not been well established. Visfatin, also known as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), is a cytokine that is highly expressed in visceral fat and was originally isolated as a secreted factor that synergizes with IL-7 and stem cell factors to promote the growth of B cell precursors. Visfatin homologs have been identified in carp, invertebrate mollusks, and bacteria, as well as in vertebrates, including humans and the mouse. It has been postulated to play a role in innate immunity.
Visfatin exerts insulin-mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to those of insulin in stimulating muscle and adipocyte glucose transport, and in inhibiting hepatocyte glucose production. Intravenous injection of recombinant visfatin in mice decreased plasma glucose in a dose-dependent fashion. In keeping with its insulin-mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective as insulin in reducing hyperglycemia in insulin-deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate insulin receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin and insulin did not compete for binding to the insulin receptor, indicating that the two proteins were recognized by different regions of the receptor. Thus, visfatin might play a role in glucose homeostasis and dysregulation in biosynthesis or signal transduction, and might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes.

NFKBID belongs to the IkB family of proteins which contains four groups (IkB-alpha, IkB-beta, IkB-gamma, IkB-epsilon). NFKBID takes part in regulating inflammatory responses and cytokine, IL-2 and IL-6 expression through NFkB activity. NFKBID has 3 known alternative spliced isoforms, and is associated with RelB, NF?B p50 and NFkB p65 in nucleus. NFKBID is involeved in thymocyte selection in response to TCR induction.

KGF-2 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-10 exhibits mitogenic activity for keratinizing epidermal cells, but essentially no activity for fibroblasts, which is similar to the biological activity of FGF7. Studies of the mouse homolog of suggested that this gene is required for embryonic epidermal morphogenesis including brain development, lung morphogenesis, and initiation of lim bud formation. This gene is also implicated to be a primary factor in the process of wound healing.

Bcl2 modifying factor, is a member of the Bcl2 protein family of apoptosis mediators. Bcl2 modifying factor is widely expressed in many tissues.
Bcl2 modifying factor contains a single Bcl2 homology domain 3 (BH3), and binds Bcl2 proteins and functions as an apoptotic activator. Also, Bcl2 modifying factor is important for histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors which alters the balance between acetylation and deacetylation, significantly increasing histone acetylation, while strongly inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancer cell types. Bcl2 modifying factor supports Bim in regulating cell death processes in response to many stimuli. A synergistic role for bim and Bcl2 modifying factor in an apoptotic pathway leading to the clearance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae -infected cells.

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.

PLGF is a growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration. It binds to receptor vegfr-1/flt1.
PLGF-2 binds neuropilin-1 and 2 in a heparin-dependent manner.