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CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

Annexin A10 (ANXA10) is a member of the annexin family of calcium-binding proteins that contains a few members which are described by a conserved core domain that binds phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and a unique amino-terminal region, which may convene binding specificity. The ANXA10 protein contains 4 annexin domains and might be required in the regulation of cellular growth and signal transduction pathways throughout the cell.

DPP4 also called adenosine deaminase complexing protein-2, and T-cell activation antigen CD26 is a serine exopeptidase and complex enzyme that is expressed on the surface of most cell types. DPPIV is an intrinsic membrane glycoprotein and a serine exopeptidase that cleaves X-proline dipeptides from the N-terminus of polypeptides. DPP4 plays a role in t-cell activation. DPP4 is associated with intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis and involved in tumor biology. There are at least 63 substrates which can bind specifically to DPP4 enzyme including growth factors, chemokines, neuro peptides. Furthermore, DPP4 plays a major role in glucose metabolism by cleaving incretins such as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1.

Actin depolymerizing factor (Destrin/DSTN) belongs to the ADF/Cofilin/destrin superfamily which has the ability to swiftly depolymerize F-Actin in a stoichiometric mode. The ADF family of proteins is responsible for enhancing the turnover rate of actin in vivo. Destrin is a small phosphoinositide-sensitive actin-binding protein capable of depolymerizing actin-filaments in vitro. DSTN functions in a pH-independent manner. DSTN is found in a variety of epithelial and endothelial cells, however it is virtually nonexistent in adult mouse heart and skeletal muscle cells. Destrin shares a 71% sequence homology with Cofilin, however the 2 proteins vary in their interaction with Actin.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 5 (CXCL5) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as epithelial-derived neutrophil-activating peptide 78 (ENA-78). It is produced following stimulation of cells with the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Expression of CXCL5 has also been observed in eosinophils. This chemokine stimulates the chemotaxis of neutrophils possesses angiogenic properties. It elicits these effects by interacting with the cell surface chemokine receptor CXCR2. The gene for CXCL5 is encoded on four exons and is located on human chromosome 4 amongst several other CXC chemokine genes. CXCL5 has been implicated in connective tissue remodelling.

ER Lipid Raft Associated 2 (ERLIN2) is a domain-containing protein which is a member of the band 7/mec-2 family. ERLIN2 is a ubiquitously expressed 339 amino acid protein.ERLIN2 which is localized to the lipid raft-like domains in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), plays a key role in the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway that eliminates metabolically regulated and abnormal proteins from the ER.

PCBD1 enzyme takes part in phenylalanine hydroxylation. PCBD1 deficiency results in hyperphenylalaninemia. PCBD1 enzyme controls the homodimerization of HNF1. PCBD1 takes part in tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. PCBD1 prevents the formation of 7-pterins and accelerate the formation of quinonoid-BH2. PCBD1 is a coactivator for HNF1A-dependent transcription.

Platelet factor-4 is a 70-amino acid protein that is released from the alpha-granules of activated platelets and binds with high affinity to heparin. Its major physiologic role appears to be neutralization of heparin-like molecules on the endothelial surface of blood vessels, thereby inhibiting local antithrombin III activity and promoting coagulation. As a strong chemoattractant for neutrophils and fibroblasts, PF4 probably has a role in inflammation and wound repair. Oncostatin-A is a member of the CXC chemokine family. Human PF4 is used for the proof of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Furthermore it is used as an inhibitor in the angiogenesis during tumor therapy.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 Associated Protein 2 (CDK2AP2) is a member of the CDK2AP family. CDK2-associated protein is assumed to negatively regulate CDK2 activity by sequestering monomeric CDK2, and targeting CDK2 for proteolysis. CDK2AP2 is implicated in the regulation of self-renewal of stem cells during early embryogenesis. CDK2AP2 is a regulator for self-renewal of mESCs (mouse embryonic stem cells) under permissive conditions, and cell survival during differentiation of the mESCs into terminally differentiated cell types.

CFL2 protein is a member of the actin-binding proteins ADF family which contains 1 ADF-H domain. Cofilin is a broadly distributed intracellular actin-modulating protein which binds and depolymerizes filamentous F-actin and inhibits the polymerization of monomeric G-actin in a pH-dependent manner. Defects in the CFL2 gene are the cause of nemaline myopathy type 7 (NEM7).

CITED2 is a significant transcriptional cofactor that takes part in multiple organ development. CITED2 is a cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CBP)/p300 interacting transcriptional modulator and a negative regulator for HIF1A through its competitive binding with HIF1A to CBP/p300. CITED2 is essential for mouse fetal liver hematopoiesis and is necessary for the appropriate formation of the hyaloid vasculature and for lens morphogenesis. CITED2 is a coactivator of HNF4alpha and necessary for liver development. CITED2 is a coactivator of PPAR-alpha and both participate in signaling cascades of hypoxic response and angiogenesis.

Proline-Serine-Threonine Phosphatase Interacting Protein 1 (PSTPIP1) which is a scaffold protein and a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton binds ABL1, PTPN18, WAS, CD2AP, and PTPN12. PSTPIP1 also binds to the cytoplasmic tail of CD2, an effector of T cell activation and adhesion, negatively affecting CD2-triggered T cell activation. Mutations in PSTPIP1 are a cause of PAPA syndrome.

VAMP8 also called endobrevin, is the main component of a SNARE complex involved in the docking and fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. VAMP8 protein is involved in the regulatation of enzyme secretion in pancreatic acinar cells and plays a part in the abscission of the midbody during cell division, which leads to completely separate daughter cells. VAMP8 is essential for dense-granule secretion in platelets. VAMP8 is related with the perinuclear vesicular structures of the early endocytic compartment. VAMP8 interacts particularly with the soluble NSF-attachment protein (alpha-SNAP), through an VAMP8-containing SNARE complex.

Renin is a highly specific endopeptidase which generates angiotensin I from angiotensinogen in the plasma. angiotensin I is an important regulator of blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Renin initiates a cascade of reactions that produce an elevation of blood pressure and increased sodium retention by the kidney.

Prorelaxin H2 (RLN2) is a member of a family which is produced by the ovary, targets the mammalian reproductive system to ripen the cervix, elongate the pubic symphysis and inhibit uterine contraction. It may also have other roles in boosting sperm motility, regulating blood pressure, controlling heart rate and releasing vasopressin. RLN2 is a peptide hormone linked to several therapeutically relevant physiological effects, including regulation of collagen metabolism and multiple vascular control pathways. The active form of the RLN2 protein consists of an A chain and a B chain linked by disulfide bonds.

Art v 1, Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort) is a common weed in the Mediterranean area. The significant allergen of mugwort pollen, is a secreted modular glycoprotein with a N-terminal defensin-like and a C-terminal hydroxyproline-rich domain. The reactivity of IgE antibodies is primarily aimed to epitopes located in the N-terminal domain.

Thymopentin, also known as TP-5, is a synthetic pentapeptide which is the active site of the naturally occurring hormone thymopoietin with immunomodulating properties (corresponding to the amino acids 32-36 of thymopoietin). Thymopentin enhances the production of thymic T cells and may help restore immunocompetence in immunosuppressed subjects. This agent also augments the effects of ionizing radiation by arresting cancer cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.

CCL-20 is a chemotactic factor that draws lymphocytes & neutrophils, rathar than monocytes. MIP-3 alpha inhibits proliferation of myeloid progenitors in colony formation assays. MIP3A plays a role in the formation and function of the mucosal lymphoid tissues by attracting lymphocytes and dendritic cells towards epithelial cells. C-terminal processed forms have been shown to be equally chemotactically active for leukocytes. CCL-20 holdes antibacterial activity e.coli atcc 25922 and s.aureus atcc 29213. CCL-20 gene transcription is activated by H. pylori, which activates NF-kappaB through intracellular signal pathway which involves IkappaB kinase and NF-kappaB-inducing kinase. MIP-3 alpha is invloved in chemokine-mediated lymphocyte trafficking during gastric inflammation in Helicobacter infection. CCL-20 expression is involved in the recruitment of CD45R0-positive T cell subsets into the intestinal lamina propria. MIP-3A is in charge of the advancement of pulpal inflammation through the recruitment of C-C motif Receptor 6-expressing lymphocytes Vaginal epithelial cells respond to factors present in semen by secreting MIP-3 alpha, which increases langerhans cells recruitment during HIV transmission.

IL-28A is distantly related to type I interferons and the IL-10 family. Expression of IL-28A is induced by viral infection which interacts with a heterodimeric class II cytokine receptor that consists of interleukin 10 receptor, beta (IL10RB) and interleukin 28 receptor, alpha. IL-28A exhibits common features with type I IFNs such as antiviral activity, antiproliferative activity and in vivo antitumour activity.
IL-28A acts similarly to IFNs, but is less effective generally and has activity in a more limited range of cell lines. IFN-ambda 1, IFN-lambda 2 and IFN-lambda 3 are closely positioned genes on human chromosome 19.
IL-28A induces ELR(-) CXC chemokine mRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in an IFN-gamma-independent manner.
IL-28A is able to generate tolerogenic DCs, an activity that could thwart IFN-beta functions. IL-28A produced in response to viral infection, activates both monocytes and macrophages producing a restricted panel of cytokines and therefore is an important factor in activating innate immune responses at the site of viral infection.

IL-32 is part of the cytokine family and contains a tyrosine sulfation site, 3 potential N-myristoylation sites, multiple putative phosphorylation sites, and an RGD cell-attachment sequence. IL-32 expression is elevated after the activation of T-cells by mitogens or the activation of NK cells by IL-2. IL-32 induces the production of TNF-a from macrophage cells. IL-32 pro-inflammatory pathway is activated in response to influenza A virus infection. Dysregulation of IL-32 in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia modulates apoptosis and impairs NK function.
Induction of TNF, IL-1beta, and IL-6 by IL-32 is intervened by p38-MAPK. IL-32 induced monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is mediated through nonapoptotic, caspase-3-dependent mechanisms. IL32 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. IL-32 is involved in activation-induced cell death in T cells, through its intracellular actions. IL-32 is a cell-associated proinflammatory cytokine, which is particularly stimulated by mycobacteria through a caspase-1- and IL-18-dependent production of IFNgamma.
IL-32 is associated with TNF-a, IL-1beta, and IL-18. IL32 is involved in human rheumatoid arthritis and is a novel target in autoimmune diseases.

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.

Listeriolysin O (aka LLO) is a hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing listeriosis. The toxin may be regarded as a virulence factor, since it is crucial for the virulence of L. monocytogenes. LLO is a single polypeptide protein encoded by the hlyA gene and composed of 529 residues. LLO is a thiol-activated cholesterol-dependent pore forming toxin protein; therefore, it is activated by reducing agents and inhibited by oxidizing agents. Still, LLO differs from other thiol-activated toxins, as its cytolytic activity is maximized at a pH of 5.5. Inside the acidic phagosomes (average pH ~ 5.9) of cells that have phagocytosed L. monocytogenes, LLO is selectively activated by maximizing activity at a pH of 5.5. Following the phagosome lysis by LLO, the bacterium breaks out into the cytosol, where it is able to grow intracellularly, and the toxin has reduced activity in the more basic cytosol. Thus, LLO permits L. monocytogenes to break out from the phagosomes into the cytosol without harming the plasma membrane of the infected cell, which allows the bacteria to live intracellularly, where they are sheltered from extracellular immune system factors such as the complement system and antibodies. LLO also brings about dephosphorylation of histone H3 and deacetylation of histone H4 in the early phases of infection, before entry of L. monocytogenes into the host cell. The pore-forming activity is not implicated in causing the histone modifications. The modifications of the histones affect the down regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in the inflammatory response. Therefore, LLO may be significant in subverting the host immune response to L. monocytogenes. At its NH2-terminus it possesses a 25 residues long typical signal sequence excited during the secretion process. Moreover, in its NH2-terminus there is also a 19 amino acids PEST- like sequence that may target this toxin for degradation. The PEST-like sequence found in LLO and is considered crucial for virulence, given that mutants lacking the sequence lysed the host cell. Nevertheless, contrary to PEST's supposed role in protein degradation, evidence implies that the PEST-like sequence may control LLO production in the cytosol rather than increase degradation of LLO.

CMV belongs to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae which includes herpes simplex virustypes 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barrvirus. The herpesviruses share a characteristic ability to remain latentover long periods. CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane. CMV has the largest genome of the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs. Human CMV is composed of unique and inverted repeats that include the existence of 4 genome isomers caused by inversion of L-S genome components (class E). Replication may be divided into immediate early, delayed early, and late gene expression based on time of synthesis after infection. The DNA is replicated by rolling circles. In vitro, CMV replicates in human fibroblasts.