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Tripartite Motif Containing 33 (TRIM33) belongs to the tripartite motif family. This motif includes 3 zinc-binding domains, a RING, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. TRIM33 is assumed to be a transcriptional corepressor. TRIM33 functions as an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase. TRIM33 also promotes SMAD4 ubiquitination, nuclear exclusion and degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. In addition, TRIM33 inhibits the transcriptional response to TGF-beta/BMP signaling cascade. Furthermore, TRIM33 has a role in the control of cell proliferation.

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.

RAMP belongs to the type I transmembrane family of proteins called RAMP (receptor/calcitonin activity modifying proteins) which include an extracellular N terminus and a cytoplasmic C terminus. RAMPs are essential for CRLR transport to the plasma membrane. CRLR (calcitonin-receptor-like receptor) has seven transmembrane domains. Depending on which members of the RAMP family are expressed CRLR receptor functions as either an adrenomedullin receptor or a calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor. In the presence of RAMP1, CRLR functions as a CGRP receptor. The RAMP1 protein takes part in the terminal glycosylation, maturation, and presentation of the CGRP receptor to the cell surface.

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins which is termed the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue- Specific Secretory Factor) and FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone). Human resistin contains 108 amino acids as a prepeptide, and its hydrophobic signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Resistin circulates in human blood as a dimeric protein consisting of two 92 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity to insulin. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppresses the ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin is present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and is down regulated by fasting and antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severely suppressed in obesity and is stimulated by several antidiabetic drugs.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Vimentin expression in human malignant glioma cells depends on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Vimentin and detyrosinated microtubules provide structural support for the extensive microtentacles observed in detached tumor cells and a mechanism to promote successful metastatic spread. Primary colorectal carcinomas display aberrant expression of vimentin, and have activated Notch and TGFbeta signaling pathways. Vimentin is a strong arterial substrate for transglutaminases. Transglutaminase-mediated vimentin dimerization results in a novel unifying pathway by which vasodilatory and remodeling responses may be regulated. Ablation of vimentin expression inhibits migration and invasion of colon and breast cancer cell lines. Vimentin is the main intermediate filament protein in mesenchymal cells and is therefore of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

Flagellin FliA (H), also known as RNA polymerase sigma factor for flagellar operon, Sigma F and Sigma-28, is a part of the FliA subfamily or sigma-70 factor family. This sigma factor controls the expression of flagella-related genes. Flagellin FliA (H) regulates the expression of genes involved in virulence. Flagellin FliA (H) is an initiation factors which endorses the attachment of RNA polymerase to specific initiation sites and are then released.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as Monokine induced by MIG. CXCL9 is a T-cell chemoattractant. It is closely related to two other CXC chemokines called CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located near the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4. CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 all elicit their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

ARPC5 is a 151 amino acid subunit of the Arp2/3 complex. ARPC5 is believed to have a role in maintaining the integrity of Arp2/3. ARPC5 is a substrate for MAPKAPK-2 which, via phosphorylation of ARPC5, may participate in Arp2/3 regulatory functions and remodeling of the Actin cytoskeleton.

SMARCA4 belongs to the SWI/SNF family of proteins and is similar to the brahma protein of Drosophila. Proteins in this family have helicase and ATPase activities and are considered to regulate transcription ofcertain genes by altering the chromatin structure around those genes. SMARCA4 is part of the large ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex SNF/SWI, which is essential for transcriptional activation of genesnormally repressed by chromatin. In addition, SMARCA4 is able to bind BRCA1, as well as regulating the expression ofthe tumorigenic protein CD44. Moreover, mutations in SMARCA4 cause rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome type 2.

The secreted polypeptide noggin, encoded by the NOG gene, binds and inactivates members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling proteins, such as bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4). By diffusing through extracellular matrices more efficiently than members of the TGF-beta superfamily, noggin may have a principal role in creating morphogenic gradients. Noggin appears to have pleiotropic effect, both early in development as well as in later stages. It was originally isolated from Xenopus based on its ability to restore normal dorsal-ventral body axis in embryos that had been artificially ventralized by UV treatment. The results of the mouse knockout of noggin suggest that it is involved in numerous developmental processes, such as neural tube fusion and joint formation. Recently, several dominant human NOG mutations in unrelated families with proximal symphalangism (SYM1) and multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS1) were identified; both SYM1 and SYNS1 have multiple joint fusion as their principal feature, and map to the same region (17q22) as NOG. All NOG mutations altered evolutionarily conserved amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of human noggin is highly homologous to that of Xenopus, rat and mouse.

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a phosphoprotein which shuffles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. NPM1 is assumed to be involved in a number of processes including regulation of the ARF/p53 pathway. Several genes fusion partners have been described, particularly the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene on chromosome 2. NPM1 gene mutations are linked with acute myeloid leukemia.

CXCL14 is involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. BRAK protein is structurally related to the CXC (Cys-X-Cys) subfamily of cytokines. CXCL14 displays chemotactic activity for monocytes but not for lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils or macrophages. CXCL14 is involved in the homeostasis of monocyte-derived macrophages.

PFN4 is a small actin-binding protein that participates in the dynamic turnover and restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton. PFN4 is localized in all eukaryotic organisms in the majority of cells. PFN4 is crucial for spatially and temporally controlled growth of actin microfilaments, which is a necessary process in cellular locomotion and cell shape changes.

Caspase Recruitment Domain Family, Member 17 (CARD17) is a regulator of procaspase-1/CASP1 activation involved in the regulation of the proteolytic maturation of pro-IL-1beta/IL1B and its release throughout inflammation. CARD17 inhibits the release of IL1B in reaction to LPS in monocytes. Though, unlike CASP1, CARD17 do not induce NF-kappa-B activation.

Pleckstrin Homology Domain Containing Family F Member 2, also known as PLEKHF2, contains 1 FYVE-type zinc finger and 1 PH domain. PLEKHF2 takes part in early endosome fusion upstream of RAB5, regulates receptor trafficking and fluid-phase transport. PLEKHF2 increases cellular sensitivity to TNF-induced apoptosis.

GLOD4 is a part of the glyoxalase system which is a group of enzymes that is in charge of the detoxification of methylglyoxal and other reactive aldehydes that are usually produced in metabolism. The mitochondrial protein GLOD4 is known to interact with NUDT9.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also called macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha (MIP2-alpha), Growth-regulated protein beta (Gro-beta) and Gro oncogene-2 (Gro-2). CXCL2 is 90% identical in amino acid sequence as a related chemokine, CXCL1. This chemokine is secreted by monocytes and macrophages and is chemotactic for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hematopoietic stem cells. The gene for CXCL2 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines. CXCL2 mobilizes cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine receptor called CXCR2.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN), a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

Prefoldin subunit 3 (VBP1) is a member of the prefoldin subunit alpha family. VBP1 interacts with the Von Hippel-Lindau protein in order to create an intracellular complex. Since VBP1 serves as a chaperone protein, it is assumed to have a role in the transport of the Von Hippel-Lindau protein from the perinuclear granules to the nucleus or cytoplasm. VBP1 binds specifically to cytosolic chaperonin (c-CPN) and transfers target proteins to it. VBP1 also binds to nascent polypeptide chain and stimulates folding in an environment in which there are numerous competing pathways for nonnative proteins.

MAP1LC3B is a member of the MAP1 LC3 family. MAP1LC3B is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, that are involved in microtubule assembly and important for neurogenesis. In addition, MAP1LC3B takes part in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles and is expressed mainly in heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

GZMK is a part of a group of related serine proteases from the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Cytolytic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells have the outstanding ability to bind, recognize and lyse specific target cells. They defend their host by lysing cells bearing on their surface 'nonself' antigens, usually peptides or proteins resulting from infection by intracellular pathogens.

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.