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The Defensin family are highly similar in their protein sequence and are microbicidal & cytotoxic peptides made by neutrophils. Beta Defensin-1 is an antimicrobial peptide having the resistance of epithelial surfaces to microbial colonization. Beta Defensin-1 has close proximity to Defensin Alpha-1 and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis.
Skin of patients having atopic dermatitis patients and mycosis fungoides (non-lesional and lesional) show lower human Beta Defensin-1 mRNA expression and higher human Beta Defensin-2 and human Beta Defensin-3 mRNA expression.
Beta Defensin is highly expressed by epithelial cells.
Beta-defensin 1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis.

Stem cell factor / KIT ligand (SCF) is a cytokine which binds CD117 (c-Kit). SCF is also known as "steel factor" or "c-kit ligand". SCF exists in two forms, cell surface bound SCF and soluble (or free) SCF. Soluble SCF is produced by the cleavage of surface bound SCF by metalloproteases.
SCF is a growth factor important for the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and other hematopoietic progenitor cells. One of its roles is to change the BFU-E (burst-forming unit-erythroid) cells, which are the earliest erythrocyte precursors in the erythrocytic series, into the CFU-E (colony-forming unit-erythroid).

Atosiban is the first oxytocin antagonist to be specifically developed for the treatment of preterm labor. Atosiban has a specific mode of action, inhibiting oxytocin-induced uterine contractions by blocking oxytocin receptors in the uterus. Extensive clinical investigations have shown Atosiban to be at least as effective as current tocolytic agents. In addition, due to its novel and specific mode of action, Atosiban has a markedly improved maternal side effects profile compared with conventional therapies.

Surfeit-2 (SURF2) is a member of the SURF2 family. SURF2 interacts with beta-1, 4-Gal-T3, uPAR and WDR20. SURF2 is located in the surfeit gene cluster, a group of extremely tightly linked genes that don't share sequence similarity. The SURF2 gene maps to human chromosome 9q34.2 and shares a bidirectional promoter with SURF1 that is found on the opposite strand. The intergenic region between the SURF1 and SURF2 genes is expected to have bidirectional promoter activity, as is found in mice.

FLT3 ligand is a receptor for the fl cytokine has a tyrosine-protein kinase activity & a growth factor that regulates proliferation of early hematopoietic cells. Flt3-Ligand synergizes with other CSFs and interleukins to induce growth and differentiation.

Kallikrein-3 (KLK3) belongs to the kallikrein-related peptidase family. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Numerous kallikreins are involved in carcinogenesis and some may be prospective cancer and other disease biomarkers. Kallikrein-3 is 1 of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19 and is a protease present in seminal plasma. KLK3 hydrolyzes semenogelin-1 consequently leading to the liquefaction of the seminal coagulum. KLK3 is assumed to act normally in the liquefaction of seminal coagulum, probably by hydrolysis of the high molecular mass seminal vesicle protein. Serum level of the KLK3 protein, called PSA in the clinical setting, is beneficial in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.

Interleukin-1 ra is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This protein inhibits the activities of interleukin 1, alpha (IL1A) and interleukin 1, beta (IL1B), and modulates a variety of interleukin 1 related immune and inflammatory responses. This gene and five other closely related cytokine genes form a gene cluster spanning approximately 400 kb on chromosome 2. A polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gastric cancer. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

CD44 is a cell-surface glycoprotein that plays a role in cell-cell interactions, cell adhesion and migration. CD44 is a receptor for hyaluronic acid and also interacts with other ligands, such as osteopontin, collagens, and matrix metalloproteinases. CD44 participates in a wide variety of cellular functions such as lymphocyte activation, recirculation and homing, hematopoiesis, and tumor metastasis.
CD44 and CD49d are putative activity markers and CD44 a potential novel therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis. Increased CD44 antigen is associated with relapses in non-small cell lung cancers.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) belongs to the peptidase C1 family. CTSS is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase that participates in the degradation of antigenic proteins to peptides for presentation on MHC class II molecules. CTSS functions as an elastase over a broad pH range in alveolar macrophages.

Shiga-like toxin (verotoxin) is a toxin produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. Shiga-like toxin is named for its similarity to the AB5-type Shiga toxin produced by the bacteria Shigella dysenteriae. There are two known types-SLT1 and SLT2. The Shiga-like toxin is linked with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Shiga-like toxin requires highly specific receptors on the cells'' surface in order to attach and enter the cell. Species such as cattle, swine, and deer which do not carry these receptors may harbor toxigenic bacteria without any ill effect, dropping them in their feces, from where they may be distributed to humans. Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B has nontoxic action, it is the functional region which binds to the receptor. The Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B can be useful in vaccine study, antibody test and other functional research.

Interleukin 10 receptor, alpha subunit or CDW210A, is a part of the IL-10 receptor. This protein is encoded by the IL10RA gene in humans. IL10RA is a receptor for IL-10 (interleukin 10), it is part of the interferon receptors family. This protein is responsible for the inhibition of interferon receptors synthesis by taking part in the immunosuppressive signal of interleukin 10. Among its other roles are the insulin receptor substrate-2/PI 3-kinase/AKT pathway and phosphorylation of JAK1 and TYK2 kinases.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an embryonic malignant neoplasm of retinal origin. It almost always presents in early childhood and is often bilateral. Spontaneous regression ('cure') occurs in some cases. Retinoblastoma acts as a regulator of other genes and forms a complex with adenovirus e1a and with sv40 large t antigen. Retinoblastoma acts as a tumor suppressor and modulats functionally certain cellular proteins with which t and e1a compete for pocket binding. Retinoblastoma is potent inhibitor of e2f-mediated trans-activation, recruits and targets histone methyltransferase suv39h1 leading to epigenetic transcriptional repression, inhibits the intrinsic kinase activity of taf1.

Purine-Rich Element Binding Protein B (PURB) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein which takes part in the dendritic transport of a subset of mRNAs. PURB operates as repressor in myoblasts and fibroblasts in the control of vascular smooth muscle alpha-actin gene transcription. PURB binds preferentially to the single strand of the purine-rich element termed PUR, which is present at origins of replication and in gene flanking regions in various eukaryotes from yeasts through humans.

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.

A fusion tag called FLAG consists of eight amino acids (AspTyrLysAspAspAspAspLys) including an enterokinase-cleavage site. FLAG is specifically designed for immunoaffinity chromatography. It allows elution under non-denaturing conditions. Several antibodies against this peptide have been developed. One antibody denoted as M1 binds the peptide in the presence of bivalent metal cations preferably Ca(+). Elution is effected by chelating agents. Another strategy is competitive elution with excess of free Flag Peptide. The FLAG peptide purifies and detects recombinant fusion proteins. FLAG peptide is useful in Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, protein purification, and in the study of protein-protein interactions, cell ultrastructure, and protein localization. Flag peptide is a hydrophilic tag which significantly improves the detection and purification of recombinant fusion proteins.

Acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (ACAT1) is an enzyme member of the membrane-bound acyltransferase family and Sterol o-acyltransferase subfamily. The ACAT1 enzyme catalyzes the reversible formation of acetoacetyl-CoA from 2 molecules of acetyl-CoA. ACAT1 plays a part in lipoprotein compilation and dietary cholesterol absorption. Added to its acyltransferase activity, ACAT1 acts as a ligase.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a type of glycolipids on the outer cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (aka LBP) is a plasma protein which facilitates the diffusion of bacterial LPS (endotoxin). LBP is involved in the acute-phase immunologic response to gram-negative bacterial infections. In cooperation with bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI), LBP binds LPS and interacts with the CD14 receptor, most likely playing a role in regulating LPS-dependent monocyte responses. LBP belongs to a family of structurally and functionally related proteins, including BPI, plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP). The LBP gene is found on chromosome 20, directly downstream of the BPI gene. LBP catalyzes the transfer of LPS monomers from LPS aggregates to HDL particles, to phospholipid bilayers, and to a binding site on soluble CD14 (sCD14). sCD14 is capable of speeding up the transfer by receiving an LPS monomer from an LPS aggregate, and then yielding it to an HDL particle, therefore acting as a soluble "shuttle" for an insoluble lipid.

Signal-Regulatory Protein Alpha, SIRPA belongs to the signal-regulatory-protein (SIRP) family, as well as theimmunoglobulin super family. The members of the SIRP family are receptor-type transmembrane glycoproteins which areinvolved in the negative regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase-coupled signaling processes. SIRPA can bephosphorylated by tyrosine kinases. The phospho-tyrosine residues of this PTP have been shown to recruit SH2domain containing tyrosine phosphatases (PTP), and perform as substrates of PTPs. SIRPA take part insignal transduction mediated by a variety of growth factor receptors. CD47 has been shown to be a ligand for SIRPA.

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.

Anthrax toxin receptor 2, also known as ANTXR2, takes part in the configuration of little blood vessels (capillaries). ANTXR2 helps the toxin that leads to anthrax to attach to cells and trigger illness. ANTXR2 is necessary for cellular interactions with laminin and the extracellular matrix.

Ephrin type-B receptor 4 isoform b (Ephb4) belongs to the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase family which functions in neuronal guidance and mediate venal/arterial separation. EPHB4-mediated forward signaling regulates cellular repulsion and segregation form EFNB2-expressing cells. Furthermore, Ephb4 has a role in postnatal blood vessel remodeling, morphogenesis and permeability and is therefore essential in the context of tumor angiogenesis.

Interleukin-1 beta is a cytokine that causes inflammation and can regulate angiogenesis through interaction with vascular endothelial cells or promoting the creation of proangiogenic modulators through the paracrine system. The cytokine causes migration and proliferation of endothelial cells, creation of mediators to inflammation, expression of adhesion-molecules & recruit of leukocyte cells. Interleukin-1 beta was found crucial for the process of tumors in various organism models.