Search results

CCR6 belongs to the beta chemokine receptor family, which is predicted to be a 7 transmembrane protein similar to G protein-coupled receptors. CCR6 is preferentially expressed by immature dendritic cells and memory T cells. The ligand of CCR6 receptor is macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha (MIP-3 alpha). CCR6 receptor has been shown to be vital for B-lineage maturation and antigen-driven B-cell differentiation, and it may regulate the migration and recruitment of dentritic and T cells during inflammatory and immunological responses.

Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase (CPOX) which is localized to the internal membrane space of erythrocytes takes part in the 6th phase of heme biosynthesis. CPOX catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of propionic acid side chains of rings A and B of coproporphyrinogen III. Mutations in human CPOX gene forecast the clinical result of the disease, with either hepatic hereditary coproporphyria or hematological manifestations of erythropoietic harderoporphyria.

STK17A belongs to the DAP kinase-associated apoptosis-inducing protein kinase family and encodes an autophosphorylated nuclear protein with a protein kinase domain. STK17A acts as a positive regulator of apoptosis. STK17A is greatly expressed in the placenta with lower levels in the heart, lung, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas.

Proteasome subunit beta type-2 (PSMB2) belongs to the proteasome T1B family, which is a 20S core beta subunit. The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with a highly ordered ring-shaped 20S core structure. Proteasomes are spread throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentration and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway. A crucial function of a modified proteasome, the immunoproteasome, is the processing of class I MHC peptides. PSMB2 is up-regulated in ovarian cancer cell lines.

SAE1 and SAE2 form heterodimers which take part in the posttranslational modification of proteins (sumoylation). This process regulates protein structure as well as intracellular localization of the target. SAE1/SAE2 may indicate on dermatomyositis (DM) as autoantibodies against those 2 proteins have been found in patients.

IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine. This cytokine can induce the IFN-gamma production of T cells. The combination of this cytokine and IL12 has been shown to inhibit IL4 dependent IgE and IgG1 production, and enhance IgG2a production of B cells. IL-18 binding protein (IL18BP) can specifically interact with this cytokine, and thus negatively regulate its biological activity.

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The heparin-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

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.

E-Selectin belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. CD62E is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and mediates the interaction of leukocytes and platelets with endothelial cells during an inflammatory response. CD62E is found in cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells and is accountable for the accumulation of blood leukocytes at sites of inflammation by mediating the adhesion of cells to the vascular lining. It demonstrates structural features such as the existence of lectin- and EGF-like domains followed by short consensus repeat (SCR) domains that contain 6 conserved cysteine residues. E-Selectin participates in the interaction between leukocytes and the endothelium and appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

IFN regulatory factor 2 is a member of the IFN regulatory transcription factor (IRF) family. IRF2 competitively inhibits the IRF1-mediated transcriptional activation of IFNs alpha and beta, and presumably other genes that employ IRF1 for transcription activation. However, IRF2 also functions as a transcriptional activator of histone H4. IRF2 binds to the upstream regulatory region of type-1 IFN and IFN-inducible MHC class-1 genes (the IFN consensus sequence (ics) and represses those genes.

Autophagy Related 3 (ATG3) is a conjugating enzyme essential for the cytoplasm to vacuole transport (Cvt), autophagy, and mitochondrial homeostasis. ATG3 is localizes to the cytoplasm and is expressed in tissues with predominant levels found in kidney, placenta, liver, heart and skeletal muscle. ATG3 catalyzes a reaction which is necessary for autophagy. That reaction is the formation of the Atg8-phosphatidylethanolamine (ATG-PE) conjugate.

All three VEGF receptors belong to the class III subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) characterised by the seven immunoglobulin-like loops in the extracellular domain. The expression of VEGFR-1 to -3 is almost exclusively restricted to hematopoietic precursor cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells and to the monocyte/macrophage lineage. They play key roles in vasculogenesis, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The FLT-4 cDNA encodes a 1298 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 23 aa residue signal peptide. Mature VEGFR-3/FLT-4 is composed of a 751 aa residue extracellular domain, a 22 aa transmembrane domain and a 482 aa residue cytoplasmic domain. Both VEGF family members VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been shown to bind and activate VEGFR-3/FLT-4. The Flt-4 gene is widely expressed in the early embryo but becomes restricted to the lymphatic endothelial a latter stages of development. It is important for lymphangiogenesis.

CTLA-4 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and encodes a protein which transmits an inhibitory signal to T cells. The protein contains a V domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized. The membrane-bound isoform functions as a homodimer interconnected by a disulfide bond, while the soluble isoform functions as a monomer. Mutations in this gene have been associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid-associated orbitopathy, and other autoimmune diseases.

NQO2 is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the 2-electron reduction of diverse quinones, redox dyes, and the vitamin K menadione. NQO2 mainly uses dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH) as the electron donor. NQO2 catalyzes the metabolic detoxification of quinones and their derivatives to hydroquinones. This detoxification process protects cells against quinone-induced oxidative stress, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity.

Cofilin is a family of actin-binding proteins which disassembles actin filaments. It is a widely distributed intracellular actin-modulating protein that binds and depolymerizes filamentous F-actin and inhibits the polymerization of monomeric G-actin in a pH-dependent manner. It is involved in the translocation of actin-cofilin complex from cytoplasm to nucleus.

FGF-basic is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members bind and possess broad mitogenic and angiogenic activities. This protein has been implicated in diverse biological processes, such as limb and nervous system development, wound healing, and tumor growth. The mRNA for this gene contains multiple polyadenylation sites, and is alternatively translated from AUG and non-AUG (CUG) initiation codons resulting in five different isoforms with distinct properties. The CUG-initiated isoforms are localized in the nucleus and are responsible for the intracrine effect, whereas, the AUG-initiated form is mostly cytosolic and is responsible for the paracrine and autocrine effects of this FGF.
The binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. there are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 5 (NDUFA5) is a member of the complex I NDUFA5 subunit family. The human NDUFA5 gene codes for the B13 subunit of complex I of the respiratory chain that transfers electrons from NADH to ubiquinone. The NDUFA5 protein localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane as part of the seven component-containing, water soluble 'iron-sulfur protein' (IP) fraction of complex I, even though its exact role is undetermined.

BATF is a nuclear basic leucine zipper protein which is a member of the AP-1/ATF superfamily of transcription factors. BATF is intensely expressed in mature T and B lymphocytes, and is up-regulated after transformation by human T-cell leukemia virus type I. BATF acts as a tissue-specific modulator of the AP-1 transcription complex in human cells. Furthermore, BATF connects with IFP35 which is a leucine zipper protein that translocates to the nucleus following IFN treatment.

IRF5 belongs to the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, which is a group of transcription factors with diverse roles, including virus-mediated activation of interferon, and modulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune system activity. Members of the IRF family are characterized by a conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain containing tryptophan (W) repeats.

Excess adiposity is the most important risk in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adipose tissue produces several proteins (adipocytokines) such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6, that modulate sensitivity and appear to play an important role in the pathogenesis, diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. 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 mimetic effects that are dose-dependent and quantitatively similar to 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 mimetic effects, visfatin was as effective in reducing hyperglycemia in deficient diabetic mice. Visfatin was also found to be bound to and activate receptor, causing receptor phosphorylation and the activation of downstream signaling molecules. However, visfatin did not compete for binding to the 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.

CA8 was first called CA-related protein since there is a sequence similarity to other identified carbonic anhydrase genes. Still, this protein has no carbonic anhydrase activity - the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. CA8 still holds a carbonic anhydrase designation due to obvious sequence similarity to other members of the carbonic anhydrase gene family. Mutations in CA8 result in cerebellar ataxia mental retardation and dysequilibrium syndrome type 3 (CMARQ3).