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Thioredoxins are small disulphide-containing redox proteins (within the conserved Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys active site) that have been found in all the kingdoms of living organisms. Thioredoxin contains a single disulfide active site and serves as a general protein disulphide oxidoreductase. Thioredoxins are involved in the first unique step in DNA synthesis. It interacts with a broad range of proteins by a redox mechanism based on reversible oxidation of two cysteine thiol groups to a disulphide, accompanied by the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The net result is the covalent interconversion of a disulphide and a dithiol. It has been suggested that thioredoxin may catalyze the formation of correct disulfides during protein folding because of its ability to act as an efficient oxidoreductant. Trx also provides control over a number of transcription factors affecting cell proliferation and death through a mechanism referred to as redox regulation.

Ubiquinol-Cytochrome C Reductase Hinge Protein (UQCRH) is a member of the UQCRH/QCR6 family. UQCRH is a component of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex (complex III or cytochrome b-c1 complex), which is part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The UQCRH protein mediates formation of the complex between cytochromes c and c1.

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.

Mediator Complex Subunit 20 (MED20) is a subunit of the Mediator complex, which is a multiprotein coactivator of RNA transcription that interacts with DNA-bound transcriptional activators, RNA polymerase II, and general initiation factors. The Mediator functions as a link to transmit information from gene-specific regulatory proteins to the basal RNA polymerase II transcription apparatus. Mediator is recruited to promoters by direct interactions with regulatory proteins and functions as a scaffold for the compilation of a functional preinitiation complex with RNA polymerase II and the general transcription factors.

Reticulocalbin 3 (RCN3) belongs to the CREC (cab45/reticulocalbin/ ERC45/calumenin) family. RCN3 contains 5 Arg-Xaa-Xaa-Arg motifs, which function as target sequences of SPCs (subtilisin-like proprotein convertases), which is a family of serine endoproteases that proteolytically activate proproteins. The synthesis of PACE4 is induced by association and coexpression with RCN3.

CD40 belongs to the TNF-receptor super family. CD40 has been found to be vital in mediating a wide range of immune and inflammatory responses including T cell-dependent immunoglobulin class switching, memory B cell development, and germinal center formation. AT-hook transcription factor AKNA is accounted to coordinately regulate the expression of CD40 and its ligand, which is significant for homotypic cell interactions. Adaptor protein TNFR2 interacts with CD40 and functions as a mediator of the signal transduction. The interaction of CD40 and its ligand is found to be essential for amyloid-beta-induced microglial activation, and therefore is considered to be an early event in Alzheimer disease pathogenesis.

CD40L or CD154 is a membrane glycoprotein and differentiation antigen expressed on the surface of T-cells. The CD40 ligand stimulates B-cell proliferation and secretion of all immunoglobulin isotypes in the presence of cytokines. CD40 ligand has been shown to induce cytokine production and tumoricidal activity in peripheral blood monocytes. It also costimulates proliferation of activated T-cells and this is accompanied by the production of IFN-gamma , TNF-alpha , and IL2.

HCV is a small 50nm, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae.
HCV has a high rate of replication with approximately one trillion particles produced each day in an infected individual. Due to lack of proofreading by the HCV RNA polymerase, the HCV has an exceptionally high mutation rate, a factor that may help it elude the host's immune response. Hepatitis C virus is classified into six genotypes (1-6) with several subtypes within each genotype. The preponderance and distribution of HCV genotypes varies globally. Genotype is clinically important in determining potential response to interferon-based therapy and the required duration of such therapy. Genotypes 1 and 4 are less responsive to interferon-based treatment than are the other genotypes (2, 3, 5 and 6).

Activins are homodimers or heterodimers of the different β subunit isoforms, part of the TGFβ family. Mature Activin A has two 116 amino acids residues βA subunits (βA-βA). Activin displays an extensive variety of biological activities, including mesoderm induction, neural cell differentiation, bone remodelling, haematopoiesis, and reproductive physiology. Activins takes part in the production and regulation of hormones such as FSH, LH, GnRH and ACTH. Cells that are identified to express Activin A include fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, keratinocytes, osteoclasts, bone marrow monocytes, prostatic epithelium, neurons, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and ovarian granulosa cells.

Cyclophilin-C belongs to the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase)) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and accelerate the folding of proteins. Like other PPIases, the Cyclophilin-C protein can bind immunosuppressant cyclosporin A.

HPCAL1, participates in neuron-specific calcium-binding proteins family found in the retina and brain. HPCAL1 is extremely comparable to human hippocalcin protein and almost equal to the rat and mouse hippocalcin like-1 proteins. HPCAL1 takes part in the calcium-dependent regulation of rhodopsin phosphorylation and can have importance in neuronal signalling in the central nervous system.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a common precursor for 2 peptides, neuromedin N and neurotensin. Neurotensin is a secreted tridecapeptide, which is generally distributed throughout the central nervous system, and may serve as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator. NTS is involved in dopamine-associated pathophysiological events, in the maintenance of gut structure and function, and in the regulation of fat metabolism. Tissue-specific processing may initiate the formation in some tissues of larger forms of neuromedin N and neurotensin. The large forms may embody more stable peptides which are also biologically active.

EXOSC10 is a nucleolar protein and represents one crucial component of the so-called "PM/Scl complex" or "nuclear exosome", which is an RNA-processing complex consisting of a number of exoribonucleases (not to be confused with certain multivesicular bodies which are shed by cultured cells into the culture fluid and are also called exosomes).
Autoantibodies against EXOSC10 occur in patients suffering from polymyositis, scleroderma or polymyositis/scleroderma overlap syndromes. While antibodies to other components of the exosome complex (PM/Scl 75, several Rrp proteins) can be found in some sera, practically all patients with autoantibodies against the PM/Scl complex are positive for EXOSC10 antibodies, making this specificity an important marker. The presence of EXOSC10 autoantibodies is a comparatively "good" prognostic sign in polymyositis/scleroderma overlap syndrome unlike the poor prognosis seen when other myositis and systemic sclerosis specific autoantibodies are present.

Inhibins are dimeric peptide hormones produced by female ovarian granulose cells and male Sertoli cells as well as a variety of other tissues. Inhibins have two isoforms, A and B, with the same alpha subunit but different beta subunits. Inhibin A is a dimer of alpha and beta A subunits, inhibin B is a dimer of alpha and beta B subunits.
Inhibins are thought to inhibit the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. In addition, Inhibins are also thought to play a role in the control of gametogenesis, and embryonic and fetal development.

Integrins are heterodimeric proteins consist of alpha and beta subunits. There are more than 18 alpha and 8 beta subunits discovered in mammals. Integrin family members are membrane receptors that participates in cell adhesion and recognition in a variety of processes including embryogenesis, hemostasis, tissue repair, immune response and metastatic diffusion of tumor cells. ITGB1 encodes a beta subunit.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor is a growth factor and/or cytokine produced by the endothelium, macrophages and a number of other immune cells. GCSF stimulates the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and also to stimulate the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of neutrophil granulocyte progenator cells and mature neutrophils.

Histrelin is a hormone similar to one normally released from the hypothalamus gland in the brain. Histrelin works by decreasing the amount of estrogen and testosterone in the blood. Suppressing estrogen can cause thinning of the bones or slowing of their growth. Histrelin acetate is a potent LHRH agonist which stimulates LH and FSH release and inhibits the actions of sex steroids on the male and female reproductive tracts. After a transient increase, continuous administration results in down regulation of LH and FSH levels followed by a suppression of ovarian and testicular steroid biosynthesis. Histrelin potency in vivo and in vitro is similar to that of the D-Trp6-containing analog. Especially because of its high water solubility and greater lipophilic character, it appears promising for clinical application.

CEBPB is an intronless gene and its protein is a bZIP transcription factor which can bind as a homodimer to certain DNA regulatory regions. CEBPB can also form heterodimers with the related proteins CEBP-alpha, CEBP-delta, and CEBP-gamma. CEBPB is important in the regulation of genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses and has been shown to bind to the IL-1 response element in the IL-6 gene, as well as to regulatory regions of several acute-phase and cytokine genes. In addition, CEBPB can bind the promoter and upstream element and stimulate the expression of the collagen type I gene.

Crystallin, Mu (CRYM) is a taxon-specific crystallin protein which binds NADPH and has sequence similarity to bacterial ornithine cyclodeaminases. CRYM doesn’t perform a structural role in lens tissue; instead CRYM binds thyroid hormone for possible regulatory or developmental roles. CRYM gene mutations are linked with autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness. CRYM specifically catalyzes the reduction of imine bonds in brain substrates which may include cystathionine ketamine and lanthionine ketamine.

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.

E-selectin (SELE) is a part of a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. E-selectin is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and mediates the interaction of leukocytes and platelets with endothelial cells during an inflammatory response. E-selectin is present in single copy in the human genome and contains 14 exons spanning about 13 kb of DNA.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. CXCL10 is secreted by several cell types in response to IFN. These cell types include monocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. CXCL10 has been attributed to several roles, such as chemoattraction for monocytes and T cells, promotion of T cell adhesion to endothelial cells, antitumor activity, and inhibition of bone marrow colony formation and angiogenesis. The gene for CXCL10 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster among several other CXC chemokines. This chemokine elicits its effects by binding to the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR3. The three-dimensional crystal structure of this chemokine has been determined under 3 different conditions to a resolution of up to 1.92A.

Pirin (PIR) which belongs to the cupin superfamily, is an Fe(II)-containing nuclear protein expressed in all tissues of the body and concentrated within dot-like subnuclear structures. Pirin may function as a transcriptional cofactor and is involved in the regulation of DNA transcription and replication, as a result of interactions with nuclear factor I/CCAAT box transcription factor as well as B cell lymphoma 3-encoded oncoprotein.