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Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 8 (CEACAM8) is a cell surface glycoprotein which takes part in cell adhesion in a calciumindependent manner.CEACAM8mediates heterophilic cell adhesion with other carcinoembryonic antigen-related celladhesion molecules (CEACAM6 for example).CEACAM8main role is cell migration,cell adhesion, and pathogen binding.CEACAM-8 isexpressed mainly on the surface of human peripheral blood eosinophils isolated from healthy individuals andused as granulocyte marker.

Centromere proteins are a group of proteins which form and/or mediate the function of centromeres, the central structures of chromosomes to which spindle fibers/microtubuli attach and pull the chromosomes apart in cell division. Currently, 9 centromere proteins are known and designated CENPA to CENP-I. Most of the centromere proteins are targets of autoantibodies, the anti-centromere antibodies.
CENPA is another important centromeric autoantigen in addition to CENPB: it has a molecular weight of approx. 20 kDa and is incorporated into centromeric chromatin due to its histone-like properties. CENPA antibodies are an important marker for correct diagnosis of Scleroderma / CREST syndrome in CENPB-autoantibody negative patients.

PRTN3 is a polymorphonuclear leukocyte serine protease which degrades elastin, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and collagen types I, III, and IV (in vitro) and causes emphysema once managed by tracheal insufflation to hamsters.

Cell Death-Inducing DFFA-Like Effector C (CIDEC) belongs to the cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector family, whose members have significant roles in apoptosis. CIDEC is expressed mainly in adipocytes, intestine, heart, stomach, and weakly in the brain, kidney and liver. CIDEC overexpression in preadipocytes induces apoptosis. CIDEC regulates enlargement of lipid droplets.

Recoverin is a member of the recoverin family of neuronal calcium sensors. Recoverin is a heterogeneously acylated calcium-binding and intracellular signal transduction 23kDa protein in the photoreceptor cells of retina. Recoverin contains four EF-hands, of which two bind Ca. Ca-induced extrusion of the acyl group from a hydrophobic cleft in the protein drives the translocation of recoverin from solution to the disc membrane. Recoverin may prolong the termination of the phototransduction cascade in the retina by blocking the phosphorylation of photo-activated rhodopsin. Recoverin plays a key role in the inhibition of rhodopsin kinase, a molecule that regulates the phosphorylation of rhodopsin. This in due course controls the ability of the eye to adapt to, and recover from, exposure to the presence of light. Recoverin is a detectable serologic protein that is expressed in patients with cancer-associated retinopathy, a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane.
CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes.
The full length protein consists of four modules: Module I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion.
Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy.
In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells.
CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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.

CCL15, a new human CC chemokine, was isolated from a human fetal spleen cDNA library. CCL15 cDNA encodes a predicted 113 amino acid (aa) protein containing a putative signal peptide of 21 amino acids that is cleaved to generate a 92 aa residue mature protein. Within the CC family members, human CCL15 shares 45%, 44%, 35%, and 30% aa homology with mouse C10, human MPIF-1, human HCC-1, and mouse MIP-1?, respectively. The gene for MIP-5 is found on chromosome 17 where the genes for most of the human CC chemokines are located. Human CCL15 is expressed in T and B lymphocytes, NK cells, monocytes and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Human MIP-5 is chemotactic for T cells and monocytes and has been shown to induce calcium flux in human CCR-1-transfected cells.

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.

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.

SIVA1, also referred to asApoptosis regulatory protein Siva isoform 1, is a death domain-containing proapoptotic protein. It is known as glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related gene, and also as an intracellular ligand of CD27, which are both members of the TNFR family expressed on lymphoid cells. There isn’t much known about the signalling pathway underlying the Siva-induced apoptosis.SIVA1 expression is modulated in multiple pathological processes.

Arylsulfatase A (ARSA) hydrolyzes cerebrosidesulfate to cerebroside and sulfate. ARSA is inhibited by phosphate. The phosphate develops a covalent bond with the active site 3-oxoalanine. ARSA gene defects cause metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD), a progressive demyelination disease which results in various neurological symptoms and ultimately death.

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.

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.

PCBD1 enzyme takes part in phenylalanine hydroxylation. PCBD1 deficiency results in hyperphenylalaninemia. PCBD1 enzyme controls the homodimerization of HNF1. PCBD1 takes part in tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. PCBD1 prevents the formation of 7-pterins and accelerate the formation of quinonoid-BH2. PCBD1 is a coactivator for HNF1A-dependent transcription.

TAGLN3 holds a putative Actin-binding domain, two potential phosphorylation sites, two EF-hand motifs and a calponin-homology (CH) domain. TAGLN3 is homologic to transgelin and calponin, two cytoskeleton-interacting proteins. TAGLN3 is a member of the calponin family, and is co-localized with Actin and tubulin, which indicates that TAGLN3 has a part in neuronal plasticity or as a signaling protein. As a result of a wide-ranging expression pattern, TAGLN3 is able to take different roles in the developing and adult brain.

CENPQ is a Component of a CENPH-CENPI-associated centromeric complex which targets CENPA to centromeres and is necessary for proper kinetochore function and mitotic progression. CENPQ takes part in incorporation of newly synthesized CENPA into centromeres using its interaction with the CENPA-NAC complex.

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.

CKMT1A is in charge of the transfer of high energy phosphate from mitochondria to the cytosolic carrier, creatine. CKMT1A is a member of the creatine kinase isoenzyme family and exists as two isoenzymes, sarcomeric MtCK and ubiquitous MtCK, encoded by separate genes. Mitochondrial creatine kinase arises in two different oligomeric forms: dimers and octamers, unlike the exclusively dimeric cytosolic creatine kinase isoenzymes. Numerous malignant cancers with poor prognosis have displayed overexpression of ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase which is linked to high energy turnover and inability to remove cancer cells through apoptosis.

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.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7) is a small cytokine known as a chemokine that was previously called monocyte-specific chemokine 3 (MCP3). Due to CCL7 possessing two adjacent N-terminal cysteine residues in its mature protein, it is classified among the subfamily of chemokines known as CC chemokines. CCL7 specifically attracts monocytes, and regulates macrophage function. It is produced by certain tumor cell lines and by macrophages. This chemokine is located on chromosome 17 in humans, in a large cluster containing many other CC chemokines and is most closely related to CCL2(previously called MCP1).

The WNT gene family consists of structurally related genes that encode secreted signaling proteins. These proteins are implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate and patterning during embryogenesis. WNT3A is a member of the WNT gene family. WNT3A is a protein which shows 96% amino acid identity to mouse Wnt3A protein, and 84% to human WNT3 protein, another WNT gene product. The WNT3A gene is clustered with WNT14 gene, another family member, in chromosome 1q42 region.

Zinc Finger HIT-Type Containing 1 (ZNHIT1) is a member of the ZNHIT1 family and contains 1 HIT-type zinc finger. The ZNHIT1 protein is induced by DNA damage and appears to have a role in p53-mediated apoptosis induction. ZNHIT1 interacts with MAPK11 and MAPK14 and is a component of the chromatin-remodeling SRCAP complex composed of at least SRCAP, DMAP1, RUVBL1, RUVBL2, ACTL6A, YEATS4, ACTR6 and ZNHIT1. ZNHIT1 binds to NR1D2 and discharges it of its inhibitory effect on the transcription of APOC3 without affecting its DNA-binding activity.

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.