Search results

S100A9 is part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100A9 protein is localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and participates in the regulation of several cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100 genes include no less than 13 proteins which are localized as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. S100A9 is involved in the inhibition of casein kinase and altered expression of this protein is associated with the disease cystic fibrosis.

Treponema pallidum is a gram-negative spirochaete bacterium and is considered to be metabolically crippled. There are at least four known subspecies: T. pallidum pallidum, T. pallidum pertenue, T. pallidum carateum and T. pallidum endemicum. The helical structure of T. pallidum pallidum allows it to move in a corkscrew motion through viscous mediums such as mucus. Treponema pallidum sub sp. pallidum has one of the smallest bacterial genomes at 1.14 million base pairs (Mb) and has limited metabolic capabilities, reflecting its adaptation through genome reduction to the rich environment of mammalian tissue.

ANXA1 is part of the family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins which have a Mw between 35kDa-40kDa and are situated on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. ANXA1 protein has a Mw of 40kDa, with phospholipase A2 inhibitory activity to bind from two to four calcium ions with high affinity. Since phospholipase A2 is necessary for the biosynthesis of the potent mediators of inflammation, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, ANXA1 might have potential anti-inflammatory activity. ANXA1 promotes membrane fusion and iplays a role in exocytosis. The recognition of ANXA1 protein by immunocytochemical leads a simple, highly sensitive and specific assay for diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia.

Members of the Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family regulate gene expression critical to immune response, hemopoiesis, and proliferation. IRF-3 is a member of the IRF family, and is distinct from other family members. Its transcriptional activity is regulated solely by posttranslational modifications. It plays a crucial role in activation of innate immunity and inflammation in response to viral infection. IRF-3 mediates interferon-stimulated response element (isre) promoter activation. Functions as a molecular switch for antiviral activity. Dsrna generated during the course of an viral infection leads to IRF3 phosphorylation on the c-terminal serine/threonine cluster. This induces a conformational change, leading to its dimerization, nuclear localization and association with creb binding protein (crebbp) to form dsrna-activated factor 1 (draf1), a complex which activates the transcription of genes under the control of isre. The complex binds to the ie and prdiii regions on the ifn

Urinary-Trypsin Inhibitor is a glucoprotein proteinase inhibitor which inhibits the activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, lactate, lipase, hyaluronidase and various pancreatic enzymes. Ulinastatin is effective for acute pancreatitis, chronic recurrent pancreatitis and hemorrhagic, traumatic and endotoxic shocks. Ulinastatin is has strong inhibition effect to various protease, sugar and fat hydrolase. Ulinastatin precursor is proteolytically processed into distinct functioning proteins. Urinary trypsin inhibitor belongs to the superfamily of Kunitz-type protease inhibitors and plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Uristatin gene is located on chromosome 9 in a cluster of lipocalin genes.
High levels of Ulinastatin secretion is an early marker of renal tubular involvement and has radical scavenging activity. Bikunin localizes cell membrane.
Free uristatin and bikunin pass readily into urine and are primarily bound to heavy chains that constitute the proinhibitor form in plasma. UTI has a calculated Mw of approx. 20kDa and 40kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis.
Ulinastatin particularly interacts with ORF3 protein of hepatitis E virus and in charge for enhancing alpha microglobulin export from the hepatocyte.

IL4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated T cells. IL4 is a ligand for interleukin 4 receptor. The interleukin 4 receptor also binds to IL13, which may contribute to many overlapping functions of this cytokine and IL13. STAT6, a signal transducer and activator of transcription, has been shown to play a central role in mediating the immune regulatory signal of this cytokine. This gene, IL3, IL5, IL13, and CSF2 form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q, with this gene particularly close to IL13. IL4, IL13 and IL5 are found to be regulated coordinately by several long-range regulatory elements in an over 120 kilobase range on the chromosome. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Numerous forms of Bartonellosis are caused by Bartonella henselae as well as Cat Scratch Disease & Bacillary Angiomatosis. It has been found that up to 95% of patients with Cat Scratch Disease show antibodies against Bartonella henselae antigens. Highly immunoreactive proteins which are produced by the Bartonella henselae are the most important antigens used for the diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease. The immunogenic protein dihydrolipoamide-succinyltransferase also named SucB is an enzyme of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, which catalyzes the transport of a succinyl group from the S-succinyldihydrolipoyl moiety to coenzyme A.

Human Factor IX also called Christmas-Factor is a glycoprotein, which is synthesized in the liver and belongs to the serine proteases system and is part of the S1 peptidase family.
Lack of Factor-IX causes Hemophilia-B meaning Christmas Disease. Factor-IX has a N-terminus region which contains 12xGla residues which asist the calcium dpendant binding of Factor-IX to the phospholipid surface. Factor-IX is activated by either factor XIa or the factor VIIa/tissue factor/phospholipid complex. Cleavage yields the intermediate IXa, which is subsequently converted to the fully active form IXab.
Factor-IX binds initially to exosites on the factor XIa heavy chain, followed by interaction at the active site with subsequent bond cleavage. Coagulation factor IX is activated by interaction with the erythrocyte membrane, causing intrinsic coagulation. Chaperones & lectins act simultaniously to guarantee the proper folding of Factor-IX and the retention of mutant molecules. Human Factor IX, activated by either the Contact or Tissue Factor Pathway, is responsible for the activation of Factor X to Xa.

IL-1Ra is the natural antagonist of the pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1? and Interleukin-1?. IL-1Ra is produced by a variety of cells including monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and fibroblasts in response to the binding of various pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Adiponectin is a recently discovered 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). The protein belongs to the soluble defense collagen super family; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. APM-1 forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum.

Alpha 1-microglobulin (A1M) is a lipocalin superfamily member (kernal lipocalins). A1M is a low molecular weight protein component of plasma. A1M is distributed in plasma and extravascular compartments of all organs. Alpha-1 Microglobulin is found in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. The primary sites of A1M synthesis are the liver and the kidney. Around the opening of the lipocalin pocket three lysyl residues are situated; those residues carry yellow-brown modification derived from the binding and degradation of heme and kynurenin (a tryptophan metabolite). A1-Microglobulin’s reductase and dehydrogenase have broad biological substrate specificity properties due to its’ free cysteine side-chain which is located in a flexible loop. Alpha-1-microglobulin is glycosylated by three separate carbohydrate chains: two complex carbohydrates which are N-linked to asparagines at residues 17 and 96, and the other simple carbohydrate which is O-linked to threonine at position 5. The carbohydrates comprise 22% of the total molecular mass of the protein. The glycosylation varies between species.
A1M exists in two forms- a free form and complexed to other macromolecules: in humans- complexed to immunoglobulin A (IgA), in rat- complexed to alpha-1-inhibitor-3. Free A1M is exceptionally heterogeneous in charge (therefore also known as protein HC), and is found tightly linked to a chromophore. The free Alpha-1-microglobulin is a monomeric protein composed of one 188 residue polypeptide and contains three cysteines, two of which (residues 75 and 173) form a conserved intra-molecular disulphide link. The chromophoric group is covalently bound to the free cysteine residue at position 34. A1M binds retinol as a major ligand, but this is probably distinct from its covalent chromophore.
Half of all human plasma A1M (approximately 0.03mg/ml) forms a 1:1 complex with about 5% of plasma immunoglobulin A. The resulting macromolecular complexes’ molecular weight is 200000, and a plasma concentration of 0.3mg/ml. The complex can exhibit both antibody activity and affect many of the biological actions of free Alpha-1-microglobulin.
Alpha-1-microglobulin was first discovered in pathological human urine.
It was suggested that A1M might be involved in tissue defense against reactive oxygen species, oxidation by heme and kynurenin. Evidence also suggests that A1M functions in the regulation of the immune system. Other functions include inhibition of stimulation of cultured lymphocytes by protein antigens; induction of cell division of lymphocytes, a mitogenic effect that can either be enhanced or inhibited by the action of other plasma components; inhibition of neutrophil granulocyte migration in vitro; and inhibition of chemotaxis.

IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that stimulates the production of IFN gamma from T-cells and natural killer cells, and also induces differentiation of Th1 helper cells. It is an initiator of cell-mediated immunity.

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.

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.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

Borrelia belongs to a genus of bacteria of the spirochete phylum. Borrelia causes borreliosis, which is a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted mainly by ticks and some by lice, depending on the species. Of the 36 known species of Borrelia, 12 are distinguished to cause Lyme disease or borreliosis and are transmitted by ticks. The main Borrelia species causing Lyme disease are Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii. The Borrelia genus members have a linear chromosome which is about 900 kbp in length as well as an excess of both linear and circular plasmids in the 5-220 kbp size range. The plasmids are atypical, as compared to most bacterial plasmids, since they contain many paralogous sequences, a large number of pseudogenes and, in some cases, essential genes. Moreover, a number of the plasmids have features suggesting that they are prophages.

Interleukin 34 (IL34) is a cytokine that promotes the differentiation and viability of monocytes and macrophages through the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor and is a part of a group of cytokines called interleukins. IL34 increases growth or survival of immune cells known as monocytes. IL34 protein obtains its activity by binding the Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor. Interleukin 34 has also a potential part in viral infection, the adaptive immune response and bone marrow cell proliferation. Furthermore, IL34 plays an important role in innate immunity and in inflammatory processes.

ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (ATPIF1) attaches to the C-terminal region of a beta subunit of the F1-ATPase at low pH values and, through interference of the beta and gamma subunit interaction, ATPIF1 controls the activity of the F1 (the hydrophilic catalytic core), F0 (the membrane embedded protein channel) ATPase. ATPIF1 overexpression in a number of human carcinomas additionally reinforces its participation in oncogenesis and offers insight into the transformed metabolism of cancer cells, including the reprogramming of energy metabolism in relation to glycolysis. Endogenous F1F(o)-ATPase inhibitor curbing ATP depletion when the mitochondrial membrane potential drops below a threshold and the F1F(o)-ATP synthase begins hydrolyzing ATP to pump protons out of the mitochondrial matrix.

EFNA3 belongs to the ephrin (EPH) family. The ephrins and EPH-related receptors include thelargest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases which have been implicated in mediating developmental events, especially in the nervous system and in erythropoiesis. Ephrins are divided into the ephrin-A (EFNA) class and the ephrin-B (EFNB) class, based on their structures and sequence relationships. The Ephrins from the EFNA class are anchored to the membrane by aglycosylphosphatidylinositol linkage, while the others from the EFNB class are transmembrane proteins.

EMAP-II also called SCYE1 is a tumor derived cytokine that plays a role in a wide variety of activities on endothelial cells, monocytes and neutrophils. EMAP-II inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, vasculogenesis, neovessel formation, and can induce apoptosis. It is also chemotactic towards neutrophils and monocytes and induces myeloperoxidase activity from neutrophils. EMAP-II clinical value is inhibiting angiogenesis of vascular beds and suppressing the growth of primary and secondary tumors with no affect to normal tissues. SCYE1is specifically induced by apoptosis, and it is involved in the control of angiogenesis, inflammation, and wound healing. The release of this SCYE1 renders the tumor-associated vasculature sensitive to tumor necrosis factor. The precursor protein is identical to the p43 subunit, which is associated with the multi-tRNA synthetase complex, and it modulates aminoacylation activity of tRNA synthetase in normal cells. EMAP-2 plays a role in in the stimulation of inflammatory responses after proteolytic cleavage in tumor cells.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies.When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

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.