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V-maf Musculoaponeurotic Fibrosarcoma Oncogene F (MAFF) which is expressed in the term myometrium and kidney is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor which lacks a transactivation domain. MAFF is known to bind the US-2 DNA element and probably heterodimerizes along with other leucine zipper-containing proteins to enhance expression of the OTR gene throughout pregnancy period. MAFF also forms homodimers, and since it lacks a transactivation domain, the homodimer operates as a repressor of transcription.

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.

The Fas receptor (CD95) mediates apoptotic signaling by Fas-ligand expressed on the surface of other cells. The Fas-FasL interaction plays an important role in the immune system and lack of this system leads to autoimmunity, indicating that Fas-mediated apoptosis removes self-reactive lymphocytes. Fas signaling is also involved in immune surveillance to remove transformed cells and virus infected cells. Binding of FAS to oligimerized FasL on another cell activates apoptotic signaling through a cytoplasmic domain termed the death domain that interacts with signaling adaptors including FAF, FADD and DAX to activate the caspase proteolytic cascade. Caspase-8 and caspase-10 are first activated, to then cleave and activate downstream caspases, and a variety of cellular substrates that lead to cell death. Caspases cleave nuclear lamins, causing the nucleus to break down and lose its normal structure and another caspase substrate is DFF, inducing cleavage and degradation of the genome. Other caspase substrates are involved in cytoskeletal structure, cell cycle regulation and signaling pathways. Activation of JNK kinase, activation of Jun, and production of ceramide may also play roles in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Activation of fas-mediated apoptosis is opposed by I-FLICE and FAP. Viruses and tumors may escape immune surveillance in part through suppression of fas-mediated apoptosis using similar mechanisms.

HDGF is a member of the hepatoma-derived growth factor family. HDGF plays a role as a secreted mitogen from the human hepatoma cell line Huh-7. HDGF is a nuclear targeted vascular smooth muscle cell mitogen as well as a heparin-binding protein that is greatly expressed in tumor cells where it stimulates proliferation. HDGF takes part in organ development and lung remodeling after injury by promoting proliferation of lung epithelial cells. HDGF plays a role in the carcinogenesis of gastric epithelial cells through promotion of cell proliferation by Erk1/2 activation. HDGF is linked with tumorigenesis and the growth of cancer. HDGF is a self-regulating factor connected with the prognosis of liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. HDGF has proliferative, angiogenic, and neurotrophic activity. HDGF is a distinctive nuclear targeting growth factor that is vastly expressed in HCC cells and is a prognostic factor for HCC.

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptors are a family of transmembrane serine/threonine kinases that include the type I receptors BMPR1A and BMPR1B and the type II receptor BMPR2. These receptors are also closely related to the receptors, ACVR1 and ACVR2. The ligands of these receptors are members of the TGF-beta superfamily. TGF-betas transduce their signals through the formation of heteromeric complexes with 2 different types of serine (threonine) kinase receptors: type I receptors of about 50-55 kD and type II receptors of about 70-80 kD. Type II receptors bind ligands in the absence of type I receptors, but they require their respective type I receptors for signaling, whereas type I receptors require their respective type II receptors for ligand binding.

Peptidase Inhibitor 3, also referred to PI3, is neutrophil and pancreatic elastase-specific inhibitor of skin. The protein may prevent elastase mediated tissue proteolysis. PI3 has shown inhibition of alpha-4-beta-2/CHRNA2-CHRNB2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a weak inhibition on Kv11.1/KCNH2/ERG1 and on the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1.

C1QTNF6 is a collagen type-IV specific for basement membranes. C1QTNF6 is vital for embryonic development.

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).

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a ligand molecule which induces apoptosis. It is a type II transmembrane protein with homology to other members of the tumor necrosis factor family.In humans, the gene that encodes for TRAIL is located at chromosome 3q26. TRAIL binds to the death receptors, DR4 and DR5. The process of apoptosis is caspase-8-dependent. This protein preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells, but does not appear to kill normal cells although it is expressed at a significant level in most normal tissues.

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.

Eotaxin-2, also called MPIF2 & Ckb6, is a novel CC chemokine produced by activated monocytes and T lymphocytes. Eotaxin-2 selectively chemoattracts cells expressing CCR3 including eosinophils, basophils, Th2 T cells, mast cells, and certain subsets of dendritic cells. Furthermore, Eotaxin-2 inhibits the proliferation of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells. The mature protein, which includes C-terminal truncation, contains 78 amino acids (92 amino acids for the mouse homolog, without C-terminal truncation).
CCL24 functions as a chemotactic chemokine for resting t-lymphocytes, and eosinophils. CCL24 has lower chemotactic activity for neutrophils but none for monocytes and activated lymphocytes. CCL24 is a strong suppressor of colony formation by a multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cell line and binds to CCR3.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL7) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. It is a protein that is released in large amounts from platelets following their activation. It stimulates various processes including mitogenesis, synthesis of extracellular matrix, glucose metabolism and synthesis of plasminogen activator.

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is an important foetal growth hormone.IGF-II is made by theca cells during gestation. IGF-II binds the sink IGF-II receptor (IGF2R) which results in IGF-II degradation.IGF-II also engages the IGF-I receptor (IGF1R) to arbitrate embryonic growth.

TRAF-interacting protein with FHA domain-containing protein A (TIFA) is an adapter protein that mediates the IRAK1 and TRAF6 interaction following IL-1 stimulation, triggering the downstream activation of NF-kappa-B and AP-1 pathways. The TIFA protein stimulates the oligomerization and polyubiquitination of TRAF6, leading to the activation of TAK1 and IKK through a proteasome-independent mechanism.

CD70 also known as TNFSF7 is a cytokine which binds to CD27. TNFSF7 takes part in T-cell activation as well as induces the proliferation of costimulated T-cells. Moreover, TNFSF7 enhances the generation of cytolytic T-cells. Among the diseases which are associated with TNFSF7: Include acute myocarditis & Myocarditis.

The somatomedins, or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), comprise a family of peptides that takes part in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates various growth-promoting effects of growth hormone (GH; MIM 139250). Early studies showed that growth hormone did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin' (Daughaday et al., 1972). 3 main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2; MIM 147470), and somatomedin B (MIM 193190) (Rotwein, 1986; Rosenfeld, 2003).

Marginal zone B- and B1-cell-specific protein (MZB1) functions as a hormone-regulated adipokine/proinflammatory cytokine which is implicated in causing chronic inflammation and affecting cellular expansion. MZB1 links with immunoglobulin M (IgM) heavy and light chains and stimulate s IgM assembly and secretion. MZB1 exerts its effect by acting as a molecular chaperone or as an oxidoreductase as it exhibits a low level of oxidoreductase activity. MZB1 helps to diversify peripheral B-cell functions by regulating Ca(2+) stores, antibody secretion and integrin activation.

sRANK Receptor is a part of of the TNF superfamily of ligands and receptors which participates in the regulation of specific immunity and bone turnover. sRANK Receptor was originally acknowledged as a dendritic-cell-membrane protein, which by interacting with RANKL augments the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate naive T cell proliferation and to endorse the survival of RANK and T cells. The full length human RANK cDNA encodes a type I transmembrane protein of 616 amino acids with a predicted 183 amino acid extracellular domain and a 383 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. sRANK Receptor is also expressed in a various tissues including skeletal muscle, thymus, liver, colon, small intestine and adrenal gland.

Human interleukin family 1, member 10 (IL1F10) belongs to the interleukin 1 cytokine family. IL1F10 is expressed in the fetal skin, spleen and tonsil, generally in the basal epithelia of skin and in proliferating B-cells of the tonsil. IL1F10 binds soluble IL1 receptor type 1 and may be implicated in the regulation of adapted and innate immune responses.

IFNI30 inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (IFI30), is a part of the GILT family. IFI30 is a lysosomal thiol reductase which at low pH is capable of decreasing protein’s disulfide bonds. IFI30 is expressed constitutively in antigen-presenting cells and induced by gamma-IFN in other cell types. Also, IFI30 plays an important role in MHC class II-restricted antigen processing. IFI30 facilitates the generation of MHC class II-restricted epitopes from disulfide bond-containing antigen by the endocytic reduction of disulfide bonds and Also facilitates MHC class I-restricted recognition of exogenous antigens containing disulfide bonds by CD8+ T-cells or cross-presentation.

MAPK11 belongs to the MAP kinase family and is most associated with p38 MAP kinases (MAPKs). MAPKs are activated mainly as a reaction to cellular stress and inflammatory cytokines, and inhibitors that target the MAPK14 and MAPK11 have demonstrated ability to cure inflammatory disease. MAPK11 cooperates with HDAC3 and Promyelocytic leukemia protein and takes part in a signal transduction pathway which is activated by alterations in the osmolarity of the extracellular environment, by environmental stress, or by cytokines.

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.

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, tumorigenesis and 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.

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.