Search results

Meteorin (METRN) is involved in both glial cell differentiation and axonal network formation during neurogenesis. METRN promotes astrocyte differentiation and transforms cerebellar astrocytes into radial glia. Moreover, the METRN protein stimulates axonal extension in small and intermediate neurons of sensory ganglia by activating nearby satellite glia.

EDF1 controls endothelial cell differentiation. EDF1 has a role as a bridging protein that interconnects regulatory proteins and the basal transcriptional machinery, thus modulating the transcription of genes that take part in endothelial differentiation. EDF1 binds calmodulin through its IQ domain and controls nitric oxide synthase activity via calmodulin sequestration in the cytoplasm. EDF1 is localized in adult liver, heart, adipose tissues, intestine and pancreas.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor also called LIF is a lymphoid factor that promotes long-term maintenance of embryonic stem cells by suppressing spontaneous differentiation. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor has several functions such as cholinergic neuron differentiation, control of stem cell pluripotency, bone & fat metabolism, mitogenesis of factor dependent cell lines & promotion of megakaryocyte production in vivo. Human and mouse LIF exhibit a 78% identity in its amino acid sequence.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily. This receptor contributes to the clonal expansion, survival, and development of T cells. It can also induce proliferation in peripheral monocytes, enhance T cell apoptosis induced by TCR/CD3 triggered activation, and regulate CD28 co-stimulation to promote Th1 cell responses. The expression of this receptor is induced by lymphocyte activation. TRAF adaptor proteins have been shown to bind to this receptor and transduce the signals leading to activation of NF-kappaB.

Interleukin-3 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T cells.
IL-3 is thought to function via specific cell surface receptors to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and survival of haematopoietic cell lines. IL-3 has also been shown to affect the functional activity of a variety of other cell types including mast cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and basophils.

BDNF promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. Major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the cns. the versatility of bdnf is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (ltp), long-term depression (ltd), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.

IL-17 family members are glycoproteins secreted as dimers which induce local cytokine production and recruit granulocytes to sites of inflammation. The IL-17 family is comprised of at least six pro-inflammatory cytokines that share a conserved cysteine-knot structure but diverge at the N-terminus. IL-17 is induced by IL-15 and IL-23, mostly in activated CD4+ T cells distinct from Th1 or Th2 cells. IL-17B binds the IL-17B receptor, but not the IL-17 receptor; it is most homologous with IL-17D, which is expressed by resting CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. IL17B Diseases associated with IL17B include spondyloarthropathy, and neuronitis, and among its related super-pathways are Mucin expression in CF via IL-6, IL-17 signaling pathways and STAT3 Pathway.

UL16 Binding Protein 4 (ULBP4) is a member of the RAET1 family, which is comprised of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related genes located in a cluster on chromosome 6q24.2-q25.3. ULBP4 functions as a ligand for the NKG2D receptor on the surface of NK cells. ULBP4 binding to the receptor induces expansion of anti-tumor cytotoxic lymphocytes. ULBP4 is expressed mainly in the skin, but also in the testis or trachea. ULBP4 is upregulated in different tumors. ULBP4 doesn’t interact with the CMV glycoprotein UL16. ULBP4 is also a ligand for the KLRK1 receptor. ULBP4 distributes activating signals to NK cells and stimulates tumor immune surveillance by inducing the expansion of anti-tumor cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Myostatin (GDF-8) is expressed uniquely in human skeletal muscle as a 12 kDa mature glycoprotein consisting of 113 amino acid residues and secreted into plasma. Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor ? superfamily of secreted growth and differentiation factors that is essential for proper regulation of skeletal muscle mass. Studies have shown that myostatin could play an important role in cardiac development and physiology.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

Leptin takes an important part in the regulation of energy balance and body weight control.After entering the circulation, Leptin binds LEPRwhich results in the activation of several major signalling pathways. In the hypothalamus Leptin acts as an appetite-regulating factor that induces a decrease in food intake and an increase in energy consumption and also regulates bone mass and secretion of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal hormones. In the periphery, increases basal metabolism, regulates pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion and affects innate and adaptive immunity.

Interleukin-1b is produced by activated macrophages, IL-1B stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1B proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin from synovial cells.

interleukin 12 subunit beta/alpha or IL12b/IL12a is a growth factor cytokine which increases the lytic activity of NK/lymphokine-activated killer cells, activated T and NK cells and prompt IFN-gamma production (through resting PBMC). IL12b/IL12a is an essential part to the process of cellular-immunity and activates the differentiation of Th1 cells originates from the precursor T helper cells. The protein is linked to IL23A and creates the IL-23 interleukin, by that, the autoimmune inflammation is induced and autoimmune inflammatory diseases and tumorigenesis are being affected.

Mitochondrial Ribosome Recycling Factor (MRRF) is a member of the RRF family. MRRF attaches to the large ribosomal subunit in the cleft which has a peptidyl transferase center. MRRF controls the release of ribosome from messenger RNA at the termination of protein biosynthesis. Also, it may intensify the efficacy of translation by recycling ribosome from one round of translation to another.

NANOG is a multidomain homeobox transcription factor which functions to maintain the undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells. NANOG expression counteracts the differentiation-promoting signals induced by the extrinsic factors LIF, Stat3 and BMP. Once NANOG expression is downregulated, cell differentiation can proceed. Proteins which regulate NANOG expression include transcription factors Oct4, SOX2, FoxD3, and Tcf3 and tumor suppressor p53.

SH2 domain-containing protein 1B, also known as SH2D1B activates NK cells. SH2D1B participates in controlling signal transduction through at least 4 receptors, CD84, SLAMF1, LY9 and CD244, expressed on the surface of professional antigen-presenting cells. Two isoforms of the human SH2D1B are produced by alternative splicing. Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome is one of the diseases which is associated with SH2D1B.

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.

ASF1 Anti-Silencing Function 1 Homolog B (ASF1B) belongs to the H3/H4 family of histone chaperone proteins and is similar to the anti-silencing function-1 protein in yeast. ASF1B is the substrate of the tousled-like kinase family of cell cycle-regulated kinases, and may have a crucial role in modulating the nucleosome structure of chromatin by guaranteeing a regular supply of histones at sites of nucleosome assembly. ASF1B cooperates with CAF-1 (chromatin assembly factor 1) to stimulate replication-dependent chromatin assembly. ASF1B is highly expressed in the testis and at lower levels in colon, small intestine and thymus. ASF1B is necessary for spermatogenesis.

Neudesin Neurotrophic Factor (NENF) is a member of the cytochrome b5 family, MAPR subfamily. NENF contains 1 cytochrome b5 heme-binding domain. NENF exhibits neurotrophic activity and activates phosphorylation of MAPK1/ERK2, MAPK3/ERK1 and AKT1/AKT in primary cultured neurons. NENF doesn’t have mitogenic activity in primary cultured astrocytes. NENF may play a part in neuronal differentiation and may have a transient influence on neural cell proliferation in neural precursor cells. NENF neurotrophic activity is increased by binding to heme. NENF is up-regulated in immortal cells and induced in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer expressing progesterone receptor.

Interleukin-22 (IL-22), also known as IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor (IL-TIF) was initially identified as a gene induced by IL-9 in mouse T cells and mast cells. Mouse IL-22 cDNA encodes a 179 amino acid residue protein with a putative 33 amino acids signal peptide that is cleaved to generate a 147 aa mature protein that shares approximately 79% and 22% aa sequence identity with human IL-22 and IL-10, respectively. IL-22 has been shown to activate STAT-1 and STAT-3 in several hepatoma cell lines and upregulate the production of acute phase proteins. IL-22 is produced by normal mouse T cells upon Con A activation. Mouse IL-22 expression is also induced in various organs upon lipopolysaccharide injection, suggesting that IL-22 may be involved in inflammatory responses. The functional IL-22 receptor complex consists of two receptor subunits, IL-22R (previously an orphan receptor named CRF2-9) and IL-10R? (previously known as CRF2-4), belonging to the class II cytokine receptor family.

Complement Factor Properdin (CFP) which is a plasma glycoprotein, is a positive regulator of the alternative complement pathway of the innate immune system. CFP binds and stabilizes the C3- and C5-convertase enzyme complexes in a feedback loop that eventually ends with formation of the membrane attack complex and lysis of the target cell. Mutations in CFP lead to 2 forms of properdin deficiency that cause high susceptibility to meningococcal infections.

A 16-kDa peptide hormone secreted from white adipocytes and implicated in the regulation of food intake and energy balance. Leptin provides the key afferent signal from fat cells in the feedback system that controls body fat stores.

GDF8 is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site which is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. This gene is thought to encode a secreted protein which negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth.