Search results

VCAM1 is a member of the Ig superfamily. It is a cell surface sialoglycoprotein expressed by cytokine activated endothelium. VCAM-1 contains 6 or 7 immunoglobulin domains, and is expressed on both large and small vessels only after the endothelial cells are stimulated by cytokines. The protein has a number of functions including the regulation of leukocyte migration, leukocyte endothelial cell adhesion and signal transduction and may play a role in a number of inflammatory diseases (artherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis).

Cytokeratin 8 (KRT8) belongs to the type II keratin family clustered on the long arm of chromosome 12. Type I and type II keratins heteropolymerize to form intermediate-sized filaments in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. KRT8 typically dimerizes with keratin 18 to form an intermediate filament in simple single-layered epithelial cells. KRT8 has a role in retaining cellular structural integrity and also functions in signal transduction and cellular differentiation. KRT8 gene mutations cause cryptogenic cirrhosis.

VEGF-C, also known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Related Protein (VRP), is a recently discovered VEGF growth factor family member that is most closely related to VEGF-D. Human VEGF-C cDNA encodes a pre-pro-protein of 416 amino acids residues. It is almost identical to the mouse VEGF-C protein. Similar to VEGF-D, VEGF-C has a VEGF homology domain spanning the middle third of the precursor molecule and long N- and C-terminal extensions. In adults, VEGF-C is highly expressed in heart, placenta, ovary and small intestine. Recombinant human VEGF-C, lacking the N- and C-terminal extensions and containing only the middle VEGF homology domain, forms primarily non-covalently linked dimers. This protein is a ligand for both VEGFR-2/KDR and VEGFR-3/FLT-4. Since VEGFR-3 is strongly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells, it has been postulated that VEGF-C is involved in the regulation of the growth and/or differentiation of lymphatic endothelium. Although recombinant human VEGF-C is also a mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, it is much less potent than VEGF-A.

C-type Lectin Domain Family 1 Member B, also known as CLEC1B. NK-Natural killer cells express multiple calcium-dependent (C-type) lectin-like receptors, for instance CD94 (KLRD1; MIM 602894) and NKG2D (KLRC4; MIM 602893), which interact with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules and either inhibit or else activate cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion. CLEC1B is a C-type lectin-like receptor which is expressed in myeloid cells as well as in NK cells.

IFN-alpha is produced by macrophages and has antiviral activities. IFN stimulates the production of two enzymes: protein kinase and an oligoadenylate synthetase.

Growth/differentiation factors (GDF1-GDF15) belong to the BMP family of TGF-beta superfamily proteins. These factors are produced as inactive preproproteins which are subsequently cleaved and assembled into active secreted homodimers. BMP13 is a growth factor which controls proliferation and cellular differentiation in the retina and bone formation. BMP13 has a central role in regulating apoptosis during retinal development. GDF proteins are vital during embryonic development, particularly in the skeletal, nervous, and muscular systems. BMP13 gene mutations result in colobomata, which are congenital abnormalities in ocular development, and in Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS), which is a congenital disorder of spinal segmentation.

Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase MER is a protein, this enzyme is coded from the MERTK gene. This gene is a part of the TYRO3/AXL/MER receptor kinase group and encodes a transmembrane protein with two fibronectin type-III domains, two Ig-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) sites, and one tyrosine kinase site. Mutations in this gene have been correlated with interruption of the retinal pigment epithelium phagocytosis process and commencement of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa.

ErbB3, also called Her3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 3), is a type I membrane glycoprotein that is a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase receptors. ErbB family members serve as receptors for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of growth factors. Among ErbB family members, ErbB3 is unique in that it contains a defective kinase domain. ErbB3 is expressed in keratinocytes, melanocytes, skeletal muscle cells, embryonic myoblasts and Schwann cells. Monomeric ErbB3 serves as a low affinity receptor for the heregulins (HRG). ErbB3 can induce specific antibody production in vivo, hence to inhibit tumor cell growth. ErbB-3 can be used to treat early, medium and advanced or post-operative breast cancer with over-expression of ErbB2. According to its mechanism of action, ErbB3 is classified as a therapeutic for cancer.

E-cadherin (uvomorulin, cell-CAM120/80) is a calcium dependent cell adhesion molecule expressed predominately in epithelial tissues. It plays an important role in the growth and development of cells via the mechanisms of control of tissue architecture and the maintenance of tissue integrity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that reduction and/or loss of Ecadherin expression in carcinomas correlates positively with the potential of these tumors for invasion and metastasis.

H3N2 is a subtype of the influenza A virus. Its name derives from the forms of the two kinds of proteinson the surface of its coat, hemagglutinin(H) and neuraminidase(N). H3N2 exchanges genes for internal proteins with other influenza subtypes. H3N2 has tended to dominate in prevalence over H1N1, H1N2, and influenza B. H3N2 strain descended from H2N2by antigenic shift, in which genes from multiple subtypes re-assorted to form a new virus. Both the H2N2and H3N2 strains contained genesfrom avian influenzaviruses.

FSCN1 is an actin-bundling protein that is responsible for rigidity to filopodial bundles to efficiently push the membrane forward during cytoskeleton remodeling and cell migration. FSCN1 takes part in the gathering of actin filament bundles present in microspikes, membrane ruffles, and stress fibers. FSCN1 is absent from most normal epithelia though is upregulated in multiple forms of human carcinoma, where its expression associates clinically with a poor prognosis. FSCN1 expression is abundantly found in neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells.

KLF4 (aka the gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor-GKLF), is a zinc finger-containing transcription factor which is a member of the Kruppel-like family of transcription factors. KLF4 plays key roles during the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells. Particularly, it is found mainly in the gut and has been shown to be expressed during growth arrest. KLF4 is also involved in cell cycle control since expression of KLF4 inhibits DNA synthesis by blocking the G1/S phase of the cell cycle.

CD4, a single chain transmembrane glycoprotein, is found on a T cell subset (helper/inducer) representing 45% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. It is also present on 80% of thymocytes and at a lower level on monocytes. It is involved in recognition of antigen presented along with MHC class II by APCs. It serves as receptor for HIV. Antibody to CD4 recognizes T-helper cells required for recognition of class II antigens. It reacts with ~60% of peripheral blood E rosette-positive (E+) cells while showing negligible reactivity with E- cells, monocytes, granulocytes, EBV-transformed B cell lines, and mouse splenocytes.

VZV is closely related to the herpes simplex viruses(HSV), sharing much genomehomology. The known envelope glycoproteins (gB, gC, gE, gH, gI, gK, gL) correspond with those in HSV, however there is no equivalent of HSV gD. VZV virons are spherical and 150-200 nm in diameter. Their lipidenvelope encloses the nucleocapsid of 162 capsomeres arranged in a hexagonalform. Its DNAis a single, linear, double-stranded molecule, 125,000 nt long. The virus is very susceptible to disinfectants, notably sodium hypochlorite. Within the body it can be treated by a number of drugs and therapeutic agents including aciclovir, zoster-immune globulin(ZIG), and vidarabine.

Galectins are a family of animal lectins with an affinity for beta-galactosides. This family has at least 14 identified members. Galectins share similarities in the CRD (the carbohydrate recognition domain). Galectins are synthesized as cytosolic proteins. Though localized principally in the cytoplasm and lacking a classical signal peptide, galectins can also be stimulated to secretion by non-classical pathways or alternatively targeted to the nucleus. Galectins are involved in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Human Galectin-7 belongs to the prototypical Galectins containing a single CRD, which is initially identified in human epidermis as a monomer. The Galectin-7 expression is induced by tumor suppressor protein p53 and associated with apoptosis. Galectin-7 is a pro-apoptotic protein which functions intracellularlly upstream of JNK activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c release. The correlation of Galectin-7 with the UV-induced apoptosis of keratinocytes presents a critical mechanism in the maintenance of epidermal homeostasis. Human Galectin-7 is localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm.

VRK3 is a member of the protein kinase superfamily. The VRK3 gene has replacements at a number of residues within the ATP binding motifs which in other kinases were proved to be required for catalysis in both human and mouse. In vitro assays show that VRK3 has no phosphorylation activity but probably holds its substrate binding capability. VRK3 is universally expressed in human tissues and its protein is restricts to the nucleus.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

Biglycan (BGN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which takes part in assembly of collagen fibrils and muscle regeneration. BGN is closely correlated in structure to two other small proteoglycans, decorin and fibromodulin. BGN interacts with several proteins involved in muscular dystrophy, including alpha-dystroglycan, alpha- and gamma-sarcoglycan and collagen VI. BGN is also critical for the assembly of the dystrophin-associated protein complex.

Ectodysplasin A Receptor, also known as EDAR belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor family. EDAR is a receptor for the soluble ligand ectodysplasin A, and is capable of activating the nuclear factor-kappaB, JNK, as well as caspase-independent cell death pathways. EDAR is necessary for the development of hair, teeth, and other ectodermal derivatives. Furthermore, mutations in EDAR resulted in autosomal dominant and recessive forms of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia.

Cytokeratin 23 (KRT23) is a 422 amino acid intermediate filament protein. The human KRT23 gene is found on chromosome 17q21.2. Type I cytokeratins consist of acidic proteins which are organized in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains. The cytokeratin proteins have an essential role in differentiation, plus tissue specialization and function, and epithelial cells structure maintenance. Cytokeratins are portrayed to be differentiation markers in a number of epithelial cancers.

CD34 is a single chain transmembrane glycoprotein which is selectively expressed on human lymphoid and myeloid hemapoietic progenitor cells.
CD34 has been used to measure angiogenesis, which reportedly predicts tumor recurrence.

Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is the mammalian homologue of STC, which was originally identified as a calcium/phosphate-regulating hormone in bony fishes. In contrast, STC1 may play an autocrine and paracrine role with pleiotropic effects in mammals. It is expressed in a wide variety of tissues, but unexpectedly is not detected in the circulation under normal circumstances, which is possibly caused by its attaching to soluble and tethered forms of a high-affinity binding protein. STC-1 can affect calcium homeostasis, bone and muscle mass and structure, and angiogenesis through effects on osteoblasts, osteoclasts, myoblasts/myocytes, and endothelial cells in mouse model. Differential regulation of myocardial STC1 protein expression was reported in heart failure. In addition, STC1 may regulate calcium currents in cardiomyocytes and may contribute to the alterations in calcium homeostasis of the failing heart. STC1 was found to be a selective modulator of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced endothelial migration and morphogenesis, an inhibitor of macrophage chemotaxis and chemokinesis, suppressor of progesterone and luteinization inhibitor. Together with STC-2, it may play important roles in the processes of implantation and decidualization in the rat. In terminally differentiated adipocytes, it may function as a "survival factor", which contributes to the maintenance of the integrity of mature adipose tissue. In context with its possible role in gestation, a Big STC, a three highermolecular- mass variant has been described. STC1 was identified as one of hypoxia-responsive genes coupled to hypoxia-driven angiogenesis.
Current research indicates that STC-1 might be a useful molecular marker to detect tumor cells in blood and bone marrow from patients with various types of malignancies.

BCA-1 is a CXC chemokine that is highly expressed in thesecondary lymphoid organs, such as follicles of the spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches. CXCL13 promotes the migration of B lymphocytes (compared to T cells and macrophages), by stimulating calcium influx into, and chemotaxis of, cells expressing Burkitt's lymphoma receptor 1 (BLR1). BCA1 therefore function in the homing of B lymphocytes to follicles. Human BCA-1 shares a 64% amino acid sequence similarity with the mouse protein and 23 - 34% amino acid sequence identity with other known CXC chemokines. Recombinant or chemically synthesized BCA1 is a potent chemoattractant for B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes, monocytes or neutrophils. BLR1, a G protein-coupled receptor originally isolated from Burkitt’s lymphoma cells, has now been shown to be the specific receptor for BCA1. Among cells of the hematopoietic lineages, the expression of BLR-1, now designated CXCR-5, is restricted to B lymphocytes and a subpopulation of T helper memory cells.