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Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

Cyclophilin-E is a member of the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) family. PPIases catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of proline imidic peptide bonds in oligopeptides and speeds up the protein folding. Cyclophilin-E contains a highly conserved cyclophilin domain in addition to a RNA-binding domain. Cyclophilin-E exhibits PPIase activity, protein folding activities and possess RNA-binding activity. Cyclophilin-E contains 2 RNA binding domains at the N-terminal region and a PPIase domain at the C-terminal region.

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.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Coagulation factor VIII participates in the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation; factor VIII is a cofactor for factor IXa which, in the presence of Ca+2 and phospholipids, converts factor X to the activated form Xa. This gene produces two alternatively spliced transcripts. Transcript variant 1 encodes a large glycoprotein, isoform a, which circulates in plasma and associates with von Willebrand factor in a noncovalent complex. This protein undergoes multiple cleavage events. Transcript variant 2 encodes a putative small protein, isoform b, which consists primarily of the phospholipid binding domain of factor VIIIc. This binding domain is essential for coagulant activity. Defects in this gene results in hemophilia A, a common recessive X-linked coagulation disorder.

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) represents one of the main autoantigenic targets in autoimmune thyroid disease of humans. Its identity with the formerly so-called `microsomal antigen` has been shown several years ago. As an integral membrane glycoprotein it is restricted to the apical plasma membrane of the follicular epithelial cells and comprises two identical subunits of approx. 100 kDa molecular weight. The hemoprotein TPO plays a key role in the thyroid hormone biosynthesis by catalysing both the iodination of tyrosyl residues and the coupling of iodotyrosyl residues in thyroglobulin (TG) to form precursors of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3.

Ro 60 kDa autoantigen is an RNA-binding protein that binds to several small cytoplasmic RNA molecules known as Y RNAs. SSA2 may stabilize these RNAs from degradation. Sera taken from patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) often contains antibodies that react with the normal cellular SSA2 protein as if this antigen was foreign.

Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Numerous kallikreins are involved in carcinogenesis. Kallikrein-11 (KLK11) which is a multifunctional protease is 1 of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members found in a cluster on chromosome 19. KLK11 cleaves synthetic peptides after arginine but not lysine residues.

HCV is a small 50nm, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNAvirus 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).

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

RUNX3 is part of the RUNX family that mediates the expression of genes which participate in cellular differentiation and cell cycle progression. RUNX3 heterodimer and the beta subunit form a complex that binds to the core DNA sequence 5''-PYGPYGGT-3'' found in several enhancers and promoters, and can either activate or suppress transcription. RUNX3 interacts with additional transcription factors. RUNX3 is a good candidate for gastric cancer tumor suppressor diagnosis.

Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C, with molecular weight of 13260 Da, is composed of 120 amino acids, lacks carbohydrate and has two disulfide bridges located near the carboxyl terminus. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and, subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Gem-Associated Protein 6 (GEMIN6) is a member of a large macromolecular complex, localized to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, which takes part in the cytoplasmic assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). SMN, GEMIN2, GEMIN3, GEMIN4, and GEMIN5 are additional members of this complex.

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.

Myeloid leukemia factor 1 (MLF1) is a member of the MLF family, and is a widely expressed negative regulator of cell cycle progression functioning upstream of the tumor suppressor p53. MLF1 hinders the erythropoietin-induced erythroid terminal differentiation by averting cells from exiting the cell cycle through suppression of CDKN1B/p27Kip1 levels. MLF1 generally functions in multi-potent progenitor cells, and its dysregulation may be to some extent responsible for leukemogenesis. Translocations between the MLF1 gene and nucleophosmin are linked to myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex Assembly Factor 2 (SDHAF2) is a mitochondrial protein required for the flavination of a succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit essential for activity of the complex. DHAF2 is necessary for insertion of FAD cofactor into SDHA, the catalytic subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). SDH is involved in complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and is responsible for transferring electrons from succinate to ubiquinone (coenzyme Q). SDHAF2 gene defects are the cause of hereditary paragangliomas type 2 (PGL2), otherwise known as familial non-chromaffin paragangliomas type 2.

Snail homolog 1 (SNAI1) is involved in induction of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), formation and maintenance of embryonic mesoderm, growth arrest, survival and cell migration. SNAI1 binds to 3 E-boxes of the E-cadherin gene promoter and represses its transcription. The nuclear protein encoded by SNAI1 is structurally identical to the Drosophila snail protein, and is considered as well to be vital for mesoderm formation in the developing embryo. At least two variants of a similar processed pseudogene have been found on chromosome 2. Among the diseases associated with SNAI1 are waardenburg syndrome type iid, and inappropriate adh syndrome.

TOR1A which is a member of the AAA family of adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) is associated to the Clp protease/heat shock family and is expressed highly in the substantia nigra pars compacta.TOR1A functions as a molecular chaperone assisting in the suitable folding of secreted and/or membrane proteins. Mutations in TOR1A result in the autosomal dominant disorder, torsion dystonia one.

General Transcription Factor IIH Polypeptide 5 (GTF2H5) is a subunit of transcription/repair factor TFIIH, which serves in gene transcription and DNA repair. GTF2H5 protein stimulates ERCC3/XPB ATPase activity which triggers DNA opening during DNA repair, and is involved in the regulation of cellular levels of TFIIH. GTF2H5 gene mutations result in trichothiodystrophy, complementation group A.

Osteopontin is a glycoprotein that was first identified in osteoblasts and is involved in bone remodeling, immune functions in fibroblasts, macrophages, and lymphocytes during inflammation and wound healing. SPP1 binds tightly to hydroxyapatite. SPP1 forms an integral part of the mineralized matrix. SPP1 is vital to cell-matrix interaction.
Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 protects against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury via late preconditioning. Expression of both Ostepontin and CD44 in hepatocellular carcinoma is linked with advanced tumor stage and contributes to prognosis information. SPP1 is the most over-expressed gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 overexpression is related with interstitial lung diseases.

Maltose Binding Protein is a member of the maltose/maltodextrin system of E.Coli, which is accountable for the uptake and efficient catabolism of maltodextrins. The maltose/maltodextrin is a complex regulatory and transport system involving many proteins and protein complexes.
MBP elevates the yield of its fusion partner in many cases and is often able to promote the solubility of polypeptides to which it is fused.

GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are synthetic peptides that like GHRH act directly on pituitary somatotrophs to stimulate GH release. Growth hormone (GH) release is stimulated by a variety of synthetic secretagogues, of which growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6) has been most thoroughly studied; it is thought to have actions at both pituitary and hypothalamic site.

RARRES2 is a secreted chemotactic protein that initiates chemotaxis through the ChemR23 G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane domain ligand. RARRES2 is upregulated by the synthetic retinoid tazarotene and found in a vast variety of tissues. RARRES2 acts as an adipokine, and is truncated on both termini from the proprotein. RARRES2 is structurally related to the cathelicidin precursors, cystatin C and kininogens. RARRES2 promotes calcium mobilization and chemotaxis of immature dendritic cells and macrophages. RARRES2 is secreted as a precursor of little biological activity, which requires proteolytic cleavage of its COOH-terminal domain to be exchangeed into a potent and highly specific agonist of ChemR23. RARRES2 signals via its receptor, ChemR23 (CMKLR1), as a positive regulator of adipocyte differentiation and metabolic function. The Chemerin receptor acts as a coreceptor for SIV and some primary HIV-1 strains. The Chemerin receptor has another ligand, called tazarotene-induced gene.