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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.

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.

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.

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.

IRF7 belongs to the interferon regulatory transcription factor (IRF) family. IRF7 plays a role in the transcriptional activation of virus-inducible cellular genes, including interferon beta chain genes. Inducible expression of IRF7 is largely restricted to lymphoid tissue.

SERTA domain containing 2 (SERTAD2) takes part at E2F-responsive promoters to integrate signals which are given by PHD- and bromodomain-containing transcription factors. The SERTAD2 protein is taking part in modulating fat storage by down-regulating the expression of key genes which take part in thermogenesis, adipocyte lipolysis and oxidative metabolism.

Vitronectin (VTN) which is a part of the pexin family is a cell adhesion and spreading factor found in serum and tissues. VTN interacts with glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. VTN inhibits the membrane-damaging effect of the terminal cytolytic complement pathway and binds to numerous serpin serine protease inhibitors. Scientists have been noticed an over expression of VTN, integrins and plasminogen in migrating cells during wound healing.

IL-16 is a pleiotropic cytokine that functions as a chemoattractant, a modulator of T cell activation, and an inhibitor of HIV replication. The signaling process of IL-16 is mediated by CD4. The product of this gene undergoes proteolytic processing, which is found to yield two functional proteins. IL-16 functions exclusively attributed to the secreted C-terminal peptide, while the N-terminal product may play a role in cell cycle control. Caspase 3 is reported to be involved in the proteolytic processing of this protein. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
IL-16 stimulates a migratory response in cd4+ lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. Also induces t-lymphocyte expression of interleukin 2 receptor, ligand for cd4.

Endothelial cells express three different vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, belonging to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). They are named VEGFR-1 (Flt-1), VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1), VEGFR-3 (Flt-4). Their expression is almost exclusively restricted to endothelial cells, but VEGFR-1 can also be found on monocytes, dendritic cells and on trophoblast cells. The flt-1 gene was first described in 1990. The receptor contains seven immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a single transmembrane region and an intracellular splited tyrosine kinase domain. Compared to VEGFR-2 the Flt-1 receptor has a higher affinity for VEGF but a weaker signaling activity. VEGFR-1 thus leads not to proliferation of endothelial cells, but mediates signals for differentiation. Interestingly a naturally occuring soluble variant of VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) was found in HUVE supernatants in 1996, which is generated by alternative splicing of the flt-1 mRNA. The biological functions of sVEGFR-1 still are not clear, but it seems to be an endogenous regulator of angiogenesis, binding VEGF with the same affinity as the full-length receptor.

MAFK is a member of the bZIP family and Maf subfamily. Members from Maf family of basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors influence transcription in a positive or negative way, depending on their protein associate and the context of the target promoter. Small Mafs act as transcriptional repressors when they dimerize among themselves. Yet, they seem to function as transcriptional activators by dimerizing with other basic-zipper proteins and employing them to specific DNA-binding sites.

IL-1 alpha is produced by activated macrophages, stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1A proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin from synovial cells.

IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine. This cytokine can induce the IFN-gamma production of T cells. The combination of this cytokine and IL12 has been shown to inhibit IL4 dependent IgE and IgG1 production, and enhance IgG2a production of B cells. IL-18 binding protein (IL18BP) can specifically interact with this cytokine, and thus negatively regulate its biological activity.

IL2 is a secreted cytokine that is important for the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterotrimeric protein complex whose gamma chain is also shared by interleukin 4 (IL4) and interleukin 7 (IL7). The expression of this gene in mature thymocytes is monoallelic, which represents an unusual regulatory mode for controlling the precise expression of a single gene. The targeted disruption of a similar gene in mice leads to ulcerative colitis-like disease, which suggests an essential role of this gene in the immune response to antigenic stimuli.

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.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a growth and differentiation factor for both B cells and eosinophils. This cytokine is a main regulator of eosinopoiesis, eosinophil maturation and activation. The elevated production of this cytokine is reported to be related to asthma or hypereosinophilic syndromes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterodimer, whose beta subunit is shared with the receptors for interleukine 3 (IL3) and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2/GM-CSF). This gene, together with those for interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and CSF2, form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5. This cytokine, IL4, and IL13 are found to be regulated coordinately by long-range regulatory elements spread over 120 kilobases on chromosome 5q31.

NME2 takes an important part in the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates other than ATP. NME2 negatively controls Rho activity by interacting with AKAP13/LBC. NME2 acts as a transcriptional activator of the MYC gene. NME2 binds DNA non-specifically. NME2 is a heterodimeric enzyme functioning as a nucleoside diphosphate kinase. NME1 and NME2 contain 152 amino acids, A and B polypeptide chains of the NM23 enzyme, respectively. NME2 is identical to the beta subunit of human erythrocyte NDP kinase. NDP kinases participate in the synthesis of nucleoside triphosphates, and NM23 is involved in the regulation of signal transduction by complexing with G proteins, causing activation/inactivation of developmental pathways.

IL11 is a member of the gp130 family of cytokines. These cytokines drive the assembly of multisubunit receptor complexes, all of which contain at least one molecule of the transmembrane signaling receptor IL6ST (gp130). IL-11 is shown to stimulate the T-cell-dependent development of immunoglobulin-producing B cells. It is also found to support the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocyte progenitor cells.

Polymerase II Polypeptide I (POLR2I) is a member of the archaeal RpoM/eukaryotic RPA12/RPB9/RPC11 RNA polymerase family. POLR2I is a subunit of RNA polymerase II, which is a polymerase responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalyzes the transcription of DNA into RNA using the 4 ribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates. In addition POLR2I synthesizes mRNA precursors and numerous functional non-coding RNAs.

ULBP1 together with at least ULBP2 and ULBP3, is ligand for the NKG2D receptor. ULBPs stimulate various signaling pathways in primary NK cells, which result in cytokines and chemokines production. In CMV infected cells, ULBP1 cooperates with soluble CMV glycoprotein UL16 to inhibit the interaction with the NKG2D receptor providing a mechanism by which CMV infected cells escape the immune system. Additionally, UL16 retains ULBP1 to the ER and cis-Golgi apparatus to prevent it from reaching cell surface.

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.

IL10 is a cytokine produced primarily by monocytes and to a lesser extent by lymphocytes. This cytokine has pleiotropic effects in immunoregulation and inflammation. It down-regulates the expression of Th1 cytokines, MHC class II Ags, and costimulatory molecules on macrophages. It also enhances B cell survival, proliferation, and antibody production. This cytokine can block NF-kappa B activity, and is involved in the regulation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Knockout studies in mice suggested the function of this cytokine as an essential immunoregulator in the intestinal tract.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a growth and differentiation factor for both B cells and eosinophils. This cytokine is a main regulator of eosinopoiesis, eosinophil maturation and activation. The elevated production of this cytokine is reported to be related to asthma or hypereosinophilic syndromes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterodimer, whose beta subunit is shared with the receptors for interleukine 3 (IL3) and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2/GM-CSF). This gene, together with those for interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and CSF2, form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5. This cytokine, IL4, and IL13 are found to be regulated coordinately by long-range regulatory elements spread over 120 kilobases on chromosome 5q31.

IL-16 is a pleiotropic cytokine that functions as a chemoattractant, a modulator of T cell activation, and an inhibitor of HIV replication. The signaling process of IL-16 is mediated by CD4. The product of this gene undergoes proteolytic processing, which is found to yield two functional proteins. IL-16 functions exclusively attributed to the secreted C-terminal peptide, while the N-terminal product may play a role in cell cycle control. Caspase 3 is reported to be involved in the proteolytic processing of this protein. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
IL-16 stimulates a migratory response in cd4+ lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. Also induces t-lymphocyte expression of interleukin 2 receptor, ligand for cd4.