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Neuregulin/Heregulin is a family of structurally related polypeptide growth factors which are stemmed from alternatively spliced genes (NRG1, NRG2, NRG3 and NRG4). Thus far, there are more than 14 soluble and transmembrane proteins derived from the NRG1 gene. Proteolytic processing of the extracellular domain of the transmembrane NRG1 isoforms release soluble growth factors. HRG1-b1 is comprised of an Ig domain and an EGF-like domain which is necessary for direct binding to receptor tyrosine kinases erb3 and erb4. This binding stimulates erb3 and erb4 heterodimerization with erb2, promoting intrinsic kinase activity, which results in tyrosine phosphorylation. Even though HRG1-b1 biological effects are still unclear, it has been discovered to advance motility and invasiveness of breast cancer cells which in addition might entail up-regulation of expression and function of the autocrine motility-promoting factor (AMF).

INHBC, the beta C chain of inhibin, belongs to the TGF-beta superfamily. INHBC formulates heterodimers with beta A and beta B subunits. Other members of the TGF-beta superfamily are Actv's and Inhibins, hormones with contradictory roles which take part in pituitary, hypothalamic, and gonadal hormone secretion, as well as differentiation and growth of numerous cell types.

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.

C-JUN is a gene which, in combination with c-Fos, forms the AP-1early response transcription factor. C-JUN is activated by the JNKpathway. C-JUN is the putative transforming gene of avian sarcoma virus 17. C-JUN is a protein which is highly similar to the viral protein, and which interacts directly with specific target DNA sequences to regulate gene expression. The C-JUN gene is intronless and is mapped to 1p32-p31, a chromosomal region involved in both translocations and deletions in human malignancies.

Nafarelin acetate is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Nafarelin stimulates the release of the pituitary gonadotropins, LH and FSH, resulting in a temporary increase of ovarian steroidogenesis.

CTACK is a chemotactic factor that attracts skin-associated memory T-lymphocytes. CTACK is involved in mediating homing of lymphocytes to cutaneous sites. CTACK Binds to CCR10.

Mouse CXCL16 is a nonELR motif including CXC chemokine with a transmembrane domain. Mouse CXCL16 cDNA encodes a 246 a.a. precursor protein with a putative 26 a.a. residue signal peptide, an 88 a.a. residue chemokine domain, an 87 a.a. residue mucinlike spacer region, a 22 a.a. residue transmembrane domain, and a 23 a.a. residue cytoplasmic tail.
CXCL16 induces a strong chemotactic response and calcium mobilization. Furthermore, CXCL16 acts as a scavenger receptor on macrophages, which specifically binds to OxLDL (oxidized low density lipoprotein), suggesting that it may be involved in pathophysiology such as atherogenesis.
Mouse CXCL16 is generated by dendritic cells in lymphoid organ T cell zones as well as by cells in the splenic red pulp both as membranebound and soluble forms. CXCR6/Bonzo (STRL33 and TYMSTR) is the receptor for CXCL16. CXCL16 is expressed in the spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer patches. It is also expressed in non-lymphoid tissues such as lung, kidney, small intestine, and thymus, with weak expression in heart and liver and no expression in brain and purified B- and T-cells.
CXCL16 deficiency is linked to breast cancer progression. In addition, CXCL16 is involved in immunological liver injury by regulating T lymphocyte infiltration in liver tissue. Furtheremore, CXCL16 has a distinctive role in the maintenance of cardiac allograft tolerance mediated by natural killer T cells. Moreover, CXCL16 has a significant role in not only the production of IFN-gamma by NKT cells, but also promotion of Th1-inclined immune responses mediated by NKT cells.

Dendritic cell and monocyte chemokinelike protein (DMC/CXCL17/VEGF-correlated chemokine 1/VCC1), is a secreted molecule with a size and predicted 3-dimensional folding pattern similar to that of chemokines CXCL8/IL8 and CXCL14/BRAK. CXCL17 is constitutively generated by airway and intestinal epithelium. CXCL17 induces the chemotaxis of quiescent, but not LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells, and it also binds these cells specifically. The expression of CXCL17 is increased in endothelial cells when they are induced to form tubes in vitro. CXCL17, CXCL1/GRO and CXCL8/IL8 which have roles in angiogenesis, show significantly correlated expression with that of VEGF in primary lung, breast and esophageal tumors. Therefore, CXCL17 is suggested to have a role in tumor angiogenesis. The mature Rat CXCL17 shares 82%, 71% amino acid sequence identity with mouse, human CXCL17, respectively.

Sorcin (SRI) which is a 22kDa calcium-binding protein was originally identified in multidrug-resistant cells. Sorcin, which modulates excitation-contraction coupling in the heart, contributes to calcium homeostasis in the heart sarcoplasmic reticulum.

STC2 is a homodimeric glycoprotein that is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and may have autocrine or paracrine functions. The encoded protein has 10 of its 15 cysteine residues conserved among stanniocalcin family members and is phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 exclusively on its serine residues. Its C-terminus contains a cluster of histidine residues which may interact with metal ions. The protein may play a role in the regulation of renal and intestinal calcium and phosphate transport, cell metabolism, or cellular calcium/phosphate homeostasis. Constitutive over expression of human stanniocalcin 2 in mice resulted in pre- and postnatal growth restriction, reduced bone and skeletal muscle growth, and organomegaly. Expression of this gene is induced by estrogen and altered in some breast cancers.

Biliverdin reductase A (BLVRA) is a member of the gfo/idh/mocA family. BLVRA is an enzyme that converts biliverdin to bilirubin, converting a double-bond between the second and third pyrrole ring into a single-bond. BLVRA reduces the gamma-methene bridge of the open tetrapyrrole, biliverdin IX alpha, to bilirubin with the simultaneous oxidation of a NADH or NADPH cofactor (Bilirubin + NAD(P)+ = biliverdin + NAD(P)H ).
BLVRA is a regulator for induction of activating transcription factor-2 and heme oxygenase-1. Furthermore, BLVRA enhances the role of HO-1 in cytoprotection and provides cytoprotection independent of heme degradation. In addition, Bilirubin while acting as a cytoprotective antioxidant is itself oxidized to biliverdin and subsequently recycled by biliverdin reductase back to bilirubin.

SYT13 belongs to the great synaptotagmin protein family which contain 2 domains: cytoplasmic C terminus with two tandem C2 domains (C2A and C2B) and extracellular N-terminal transmembrane domain. Synaptotogmin family members have dissimilar biochemical properties and developmental profiles, and patterns of tissue distribution. Additionally, Synaptotogmins formulate homo- and heteromeric complexes with each other. Synaptotagmins operate as membrane traffickers in multicellular organisms.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 6 (CCL6) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that has only been identified in rodents.
In mice, CCL6 is expressed in cells from neutrophil and macrophage lineages, and can be greatly induced under conditions suitable for myeloid cell differentiation. It is highly expressed in bone marrow cultures that have been stimulated with the cytokine GM-CSF. Some low levels of gene expression also occur in certain cell lines of myeloid origin (e.g. the immature myeloid cell lines DA3 and 32D cl3, and the macrophage cell line P388D) that can also be greatly induced in culture with GM-CSF. However, in activated T cell lines, expression of CCL6 is greatly reduced. CCL6 can also be induced in the mouse lung by the cytokine interleukin 13. Mouse CCL6 is located on chromosome 11. The cell surface receptor for CCL6 is believed to be the chemokine receptor CCR1.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

Fractalkine soluble form is chemotactic for t-cells and monocytes, but not for neutrophils. Fractalkine membrane-bound form promotes adhesion of those leukocytes to endothelial cells. Fractalkine regulates leukocyte adhesion and migration processes at the endothelium and binds to CX3CR1. Natural Human Fractalkine is produced as a long protein (373-amino acid) with an extended mucin-like stalk and a chemokine domain on top. The mucin-like stalk permits it to bind to the cell surface. Fractalkine gene is located on human chromosome 16 along with some CC chemokines known as CCL17 and CCL22.

Frataxin is a mitochondrial iron binding protein that is part of the FRATAXIN family. Frataxin functions in regulating mitochondrial iron transport and respiration. The expansion of intronic trinucleotide repeat GAA results in Friedreich ataxia. Frataxin plays a role in iron homeostasis. Frataxin is an anti-apoptotic protein which prevents mitochondrial damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

CTK-19 is a member of the keratin family. The keratins are intermediate filament proteins responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells and are subdivided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. The type I cytokeratins consist of acidic proteins which are arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains. Unlike its related family members, this smallest known acidic cytokeratin is not paired with a basic cytokeratin in epithelial cells. It is specifically expressed in the periderm, the transiently superficial layer that envelopes the developing epidermis. The type I cytokeratins are clustered in a region of chromosome 17q12-q21.

Calcium-binding protein P22 is a phosphoprotein that binds to the sodium-hydrogen exchangers (NHEs). CHP is an essential cofactor which maintains the physiological activity of NHE family members. CHP has protein sequence resemblance to calcineurin B and it is also identified to be an endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin activity.CHP is necessary for constitutive membrane traffic. CHP Inhibits GTPase-stimulated Na(+)/H(+) exchange. CHP inhibits calcineurin phosphatase activity. Required for activity of SLC9A1/NHE1.

CKB is a cytoplasmic enzyme that takes part in energy homeostasis. CKB enzyme reversibly catalyzes the transfer of phosphate among ATP and various phosphogens such as creatine phosphate. CKB functions as a homodimer in the brain as well as in different tissues, and as a heterodimer with a similar muscle isozyme in heart. Creatine kinases supply the energy of phosphate hydrolysis essential to drive the normal role of many cellular systems including muscle, tumor and cancer cells.

Procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 1, also known as PCOLCE binds to the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and enhances procollagen C-proteinase activity. In addition, C-terminal processed part of PCPE (CT-PCPE) has a metalloproteinase inhibitory activity. Among the diseases which are associated with PCOLCE: bone fracture & oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Placental Lactogen is a polypeptide hormone that is produced by the Syncytiotrophoblasts of the Placenta.Placental Lactogen has both GH 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 Bovine is also capable of activating human and other heterologous GH receptors.