Search results

Babesiosis is a disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the Babesia genus. The Babesia microti life cycle involves 2 hosts, which include a rodent, mainly the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and a tick in the Ixodes genus. During a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the mouse host. Sporozoites pass into the erythrocytes and undergo asexual reproduction (budding). In the blood, some parasites differentiate into male and female gametes, though these cannot be distinguished by light microscopy. The definitive host is the tick. Once ingested by an proper tick, gametes unite and undergo a sporogonic cycle resulting in sporozoites. Transovarial transmission (aka vertical or hereditary transmission) has been detected for "large" Babesia species but not for the "small" Babesia, such as B. microti. Humans enter the cycle when bitten by the infected ticks. Thus during a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the human host. Sporozoites then enter erythrocytes and undergo asexual replication (budding). Multiplication of the blood-stage parasites is responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease. Humans typically are dead-end hosts. However, human-to-human transmission is well acknowledged to occur via contaminated blood transfusions.

AHSG (fetuin-A) which is a glycoprotein present in the serum, is synthesized by hepatocytes. AHSG is one of the fetuin class of plasma binding proteins. It is involved in a number of functions, such as endocytosis, brain development and the formation of bone tissue. It is usually present in the cortical plate of the immature cerebral cortex and bone marrow hemopoietic matrix, hence it has been postulated that it participates in the development of the tissues. Yet, its exact significance is still vague. AHSG promotes endocytosis, hold opsonic properties and influences the mineral phase of the bone. Affinity for calcium and barium ions has been shown.

ANXA2 is part of the annexin family and is involved in the regulation of cellular growth and in signal transduction pathways. ANXA2 protein functions as an autocrine factor which increases osteoclast formation and bone resorption. ANXA2 is associated with sickle cell osteonecrosis. Reduced ANXA2 expression is associated with osteosarcoma metastases. ANXA2 is part of the putative cell surface vitamin D binding protein binding site complex and functions to mediate the chemotactic cofactor effect. ANXA2 is involved in dysferlin deficiency and in muscular dystrophies. Human colon adenocarcinoma cell differentiation is related with an up-regulation of ANXA2.

Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2) is a member of the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LIR) family. LILRB2is expressed on immune cells where it binds to MHC class I molecules on antigen-presenting cells and transduces a negative signal that inhibits stimulation of an immune response.LILRB2controls inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity to help focus the immune response and limit autoreactivity.LILRB2competes with CD8 alpha for MHC I binding. LILRB2binds to classical MHC I proteins as well as the non-classical HLA-G1 and HLA-F molecules.

Complement Factor B, also known as CFB, encodes complement factor B which is a component of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Factor B circulates in the blood as a single chain polypeptide. Once the alternative pathway is activated it is cleaved by complement factor D yielding the noncatalytic chain Ba and the catalytic subunit Bb. The active subunit Bb is a serine protease which connects with C3b to form the alternative pathway C3 convertase. Also, Bb is involved in the proliferation of preactivated B lymphocytes, while Ba inhibits their proliferation.

TGFBR2 is part of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family and the TGFB receptor subfamily. TGFBR2 is a transmembrane protein that has a protein kinase domain, forms a heterodimeric complex with another receptor protein, and binds TGF-beta. This receptor/ligand complex phosphorylates proteins, which then enter the nucleus and regulate the transcription of a subset of genes related to cell proliferation. Mutations in TGFBR2 gene have been associated with Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Deitz Aortic Aneurysm Syndrome, and the development of various types of tumors. TGFBR2 expression is increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. TGFBR2 attenuates the biological activities of TGF-beta in colorectal cancer. TGFBR2 expression is decreased by IL-1beta while inducing Sp3 via NFkappaB.

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II DO Beta (HLA-DOB) is a part of the HLA class II beta chain paralogues. This class II beta chain is a heterodimer which is located in intracellular vesicles and consists of an alpha (DOA) and a beta chain (DOB), both anchored in the membrane. HLA-DOB which interacts with the HLA-DM molecule in B-cells is a significant modulator in the HLA class II restricted antigen presentation pathway. Class II molecules are expressed in antigen presenting cells such as B lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. This chemokine is also known as 6Ckine (because it has six conserved cysteine residues instead of the four cysteines typical to chemokines), exodus-2, and secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC). CCL21 is expressed predominantly in the lymph nodes and, in contrast to other CC chemokines, is chemotactic for lymphocytes. The gene for CCL21 is located on human chromosome 9. CCL21 elicits its effects by binding to a cell surface chemokine receptor known as CCR7.

Microseminoprotein is a member of the immunoglobulin binding factor family. It is synthesized by the epithelial cells of the prostate gland and secreted into the seminal plasma. This protein has inhibin-like activity. It may have a role as an autocrine paracrine factor in uterine, breast and other female reproductive tissues. The expression of the encoded protein is found to be decreased in prostate cancer. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms are described for this gene. The use of alternate polyadenylation sites has been found for this gene.

TUBB2B is a beta isoform of tubulin, which binds GTP and is a major component of microtubules. Numerous beta Tubulin isoforms have been characterized and are expressed in mammalian tissues. Tubulin binds two moles of GTP, one at an exchangeable site on the beta chain and one at a non-exchangeable site on the alpha-chain. TUBB2b is mostly expressed in developing neurons with a dominant expression during the critical steps of corticogenesis. In addition, TUBB2B is a new critical gene involved in neuronal migration. TUBB2B is present in the nuclei and nucleoplasm, Defects in the TUBB2B gene are a cause of asymmetric polymicrogyria.

NCR2 is a member of the natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) family and holds 1 immunoglobulin-like (Ig-like) domain. NCR2 cooperates with TYROBP/DAP12 and is specifically expressed by activated NK cells and by in vitro cultured TCRg/d lymphoid cells. NCR2 is a cytotoxicity-activating receptor which induces the amplified efficiency of activated natural killer (NK) cells to mediate tumor cell lysis.

Members of the Rho (or ARH) protein family and other Ras-related small GTP-binding proteins are involved in various cellular procedures, such as cell cytoskeletal organization, secretion, proliferation, and signaling. The GTPBPs are active only in the GTP-bound state. At least 3 types of proteins firmly regulate cycling between the GTP-bound and GDP-bound states: GDP-dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide-releasing factors (GRFs). ARHGDIB and the other GDIs lower the level of GDP dissociation from Ras-like GTPases.

TGFBR2 is part of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family and the TGFB receptor subfamily. TGFBR2 is a transmembrane protein that has a protein kinase domain, forms a heterodimeric complex with another receptor protein, and binds TGF-beta. This receptor/ligand complex phosphorylates proteins, which then enter the nucleus and regulate the transcription of a subset of genes related to cell proliferation. Mutations in TGFBR2 gene have been associated with Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Deitz Aortic Aneurysm Syndrome, and the development of various types of tumors. TGFBR2 expression is increased in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. TGFBR2 attenuates the biological activities of TGF-beta in colorectal cancer. TGFBR2 expression is decreased by IL-1beta while inducing Sp3 via NFkappaB. TGFB2 and TGFBR2 are involved in the antiestrogenic activity of tamoxifen metabolites in breast cancer.

IL2-Ra is one of the three constituent subunits of the IL2 receptor. IL-2Ra is released into the serum after increased cellular expression such as increased activation of B and T cells. Clinical manifestations of IL2-Ra elevation include autoimmune conditions and some leukemias and lymphomas.

Age-Related Maculopathy Susceptibility 2 or ARMS2 is a protein that is is being researches for its ability to take part in diseases in old age. Mutations in Age-Related Maculopathy Susceptibility 2 is related to age-caused molecular degeneration.

Leukocyte Cell-Derived Chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) functions as a chemotactic factor to neutrophils. LECT2 stimulates the proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. LECT2 is strongly expressed in the liver and weakly in the testis. LECT2 is a secreted, 16kDa protein which serves as a chemotactic factor to neutrophils and stimulates the growth of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. LECT2 protein has a high sequence similarity to the chondromodulin repeat regions of the chicken myb-induced myeloid 1 protein. A polymorphism in the LECT2 gene is linked with rheumatoid arthritis.

Recombinant Human Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core.
They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

BCL2-associated athanogene 2 (BAG2) belongs to the Bag family of proteins. BAG2 is a chief component of the HSC 70/CHIP chaperone-dependent ubiquitin ligase complex and acts to upset CHIP-mediated ubiquitylation. BAG proteins compete with Hip for attaching to the Hsc70/Hsp70 ATPase domain and promote substrate discharge. All the BAG proteins have a roughly 45 amino acid BAG domain by the C-terminus but vary clearly in their N-terminal regions. The BAG domains of BAG1, BAG2, and BAG3 act together expressly with the Hsc70 ATPase domain in vitro and in mammalian cells. All three proteins attach with high affinity to the ATPase domain of Hsc70 and obstruct its chaperone activity in a Hip-repressible manner.

Interferon Alpha and Beta Receptor Subunit 2 or IFNAR2 is a protein, part of the class II cytokine receptor family. When different innate immune signaling transduction are activated, there is a rapid induction of type I IFNs because it has an intronless gene source. IFNAR2 is the main ligand and binds to the receptor. Once bind, stabilization occurs and a signaling compelx recptor is formed. IFNAR2 also takes part in the activation process of STAT proteins.

Btc is a potent mitogen for retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. The effects of betacellulin are probably mediated by the egf receptor and other related receptors.

Recombinant Human Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core.
They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

MIA2 performs as a tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma. MIA2is a novel acute phase protein which its expression is found in the liver and reacts to liver damage in chronic liver diseases and is considerably higher in severe fibrosis patients . MIA2 is induced by IL6, TGF-B & and conditioned medium from activated hepatic stellate cells. MIA2 is is mainly expressed in hepatocytes.

Von Willebrand Factor A Domain Containing 2 (VWA2) is an extracellular matrix protein containing vWA-like domains. VWA2 contains a signal peptide sequence, an N-terminal VWA domain connected to 2 additional tandem vWA domains by a cysteine-rich sequence and an EGF-like domain. Also, another EGF-like domain is located at the C-terminus. Expression of VWA2 is induced in stage II, III and IV colon cancers and colon adenomas and is considered a novel serum marker for the diagnosis of early-stage colon cancer.