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Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

Hemopexin (or haemopexin) is a plasma protein that binds heme with the highest affinity of any known protein. Hemopexin is generally expressed in liver, and belongs to acute phase reactants, the synthesis of which is induced after inflammation. Heme is potentially very toxic because of its ability to intercalate into lipid membrane and to generate hydroxyl radicals. Hemopexin’s function of scavenging the heme released or lost by the turnover of heme proteins such as hemoglobin defends the body from the oxidative damage that free heme can cause. Additionally, hemopexin discharges its bound ligand for internalisation upon interacting with a specific receptor located on the surface of liver cells. This hemopexin function is in order to preserve the body's iron. Hemopexin’s levels in the serum are an indication of how much heme is present in the blood. Low Hemopexin levels show that there is a lot of it in the serum. For that reason, low hemopexin levels indicate that there has been consid

MTHFD2 plays a role as a homodimer which requires magnesium and inorganic phosphate. MTHFD2 has a pseudogene on chromosome 7 and owns 3 different enzymatic activities. Each of the activities catalyzes 1 of 3 sequential reactions in the interconversion of 1-carbon derivatives of tetrahydrofolate, which are substrates for methionine, thymidylate, and de novo purine syntheses.

E-selectin (SELE) is a part of a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. E-selectin is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and mediates the interaction of leukocytes and platelets with endothelial cells during an inflammatory response. E-selectin is present in single copy in the human genome and contains 14 exons spanning about 13 kb of DNA.

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I C (HLA-C) belongs to the HLA class I heavy chain paralogues. The HLA-C (class I molecule) is a heterodimer comprised of a heavy chain and a light chain (beta-2 microglobulin). The heavy chain is anchored in the membrane. Class I molecules have a key role in the immune system by presenting peptides derived from endoplasmic reticulum lumen. Class I molecules are expressed in virtually all cells.

Mitochondrial methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (AUH) is involved in the amino acid degradation pathway by catalyzing the conversion of 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA and water. AUH Human is expressed as a single mRNA species of 1.8 kb, and translated as a 40kDa precursor protein which is consequently processed to a 32kDa mature form. AUH has a very low enoyl-CoA hydratase activity. The AUH protein binds to the AU-rich element (ARE), which is a common element found in the 3' UTR of rapidly decaying mRNA such as c-fos, c-myc and granulocyte/ macrophage colony stimulating factor. AU-rich elements are involved in directing RNA to rapid degradation and deadenylation. In addition, AUH is homologous to enol-CoA hydratase, which is an enzyme involved in fatty acid degradation, and has been shown to have intrinsic hydratase enzymatic activity. AUH is therefore a bifunctional chimera between RNA binding and metabolic enzyme activity.

C17orf103 is a member of the GTLF3B family and is encoded by a gene which is located in human chromosome 17p11.2. BRCA1 and p53 are 2 main tumor suppressor genes which are linked to chromosome 17. Tumor suppressor p53 is necessary for maintenance of cellular genetic integrity by moderating cell fate through DNA repair versus cell death. C17orf103 is also related to neurofibromatosis, a disorder characterized by neural and epidermal lesions, and dysregulated Schwann cell growth.

Calretinin is an intracellular calcium-binding protein belonging to the troponin C superfamily characterized by a structural motif described as the EF-hand domain. The immunohistochemical detection of calretinin in developing cerebellum is restricted to the later stages indicated by weak staining from week 21 of gestation, in Purkinje and basket cells and in neurons of the dentate nucleus. The intensity of staining increases as the cerebellum matures. In tumors, calretinin has been detected in mesotheliomas and some pulmonary adenocarcinomas.

CCL28 is part of the subfamily of small cytokine CC genes. CCL28 shows chemotactic activity for resting CD4 or CD8 T cells and eosinophils. CCL28 binds to chemokine receptors CCR3 and CCR10. CCL28 is involved in the physiology of extracutaneous epithelial tissues, including diverse mucosal organs. CCL28 mediates mucosal immunity in HIV exposure and infection. CCL28 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases.
Human CCL28 cDNA encodes a 127 amino acid residue precursor protein with a putative 22 amino acid residue signal peptide that is cleaved to produce the 105 amino acid residue mature protein. Human and mouse CCL28 are highly conserved, sharing 83% amino acid identity in their mature regions. CCL28 shares the most homology with CCL27/CTACK. Human and mouse CCL28 RNA expression was found to be highest in normal and pathologic colon with the protein being expressed by epithelial cells. Human CCL28 RNA was also present in normal and asthmatic lung tissues.

Placenta-Specific 8 (PLAC8) is a member of the cornifelin family. The PLAC8 protein is expressed at high levels in the plasmacytoid dendritic cells, spleen, lymph nodes, peripheral blood leukocytes, and bone marrow.

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.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN) is a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

TNFSF15 is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein is abundantly expressed in endothelial cells, but is not expressed in either B or T cells. The expression of TNFSF15 is inducible by TNF and IL-1 alpha. This cytokine is a ligand for receptor TNFRSF25 and decoy receptor TNFRSF21/DR6. It can activate NF-kappaB and MAP kinases, and acts as an autocrine factor to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. TNFSF15 is also found to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, and thus may function as an angiogenesis inhibitor. An additional isoform encoded by an alternatively spliced transcript variant has been reported but the sequence of this transcript has not been determined.

The 14-3-3 family of proteins plays a key regulatory role in signal transduction, checkpoint control, apoptotic and nutrient-sensing pathways. 14-3-3 proteins are highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed. There are at least seven isoforms, β, γ, ε, σ, ζ, τ and η that have been identified in mammals. The 14-3-3 epsilon, a subtype of the 14-3-3 family of proteins, was thought to be brain and neuron-specific. It has been shown to interact with CDC25 phosphatases, RAF1 and IRS1 proteins, suggesting its role in diverse biochemical activities related to signal transduction, such as cell division and regulation of sensitivity. It has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer.

Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is a secretory protein not normally expressed in healthy pancreas but highly induced during acute pancreatitis. While PAP has been shown to be anti-bacterial and antiapoptotic in vitro, its definitive biological function in vivo is not clear. Using antisepse oligonucleotides, inhibition of PAP expression significantly worsened pancreatitis in a rat model. During pancreatitis, PAP released by the pancreas could mediate lung inflammation through induction of hepatic TNF- alpha expression and subsequent increase in circulating TNF-alpha.
PAP is activated in primary liver cancers. In normal liver, the protein is undetectable in normal mature hepatocytes and found only in some ductular cells, representing potential hepatic progenitor cells. PAP can be considered hepatic cytokine that combines mitogenic and anti-apoptotic functions regarding hepatocytes, and consequently acts as a growth factor in vivo to enhance liver regeneration. In pancreatic cancor, PAP was overexpressed in 79% (30 of 38) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 19% (7 of 36) of chronic pancreatitis, and 29% (2 of 7) of mucinous cystadenoma. PAP was found in malignant ductular structures in pancreatic carcinomas as well as in benign proliferating ductules and acinar cells in chronic pancreatitis. Elevation of PAP in patients with pancreatic cancer is not merely explainable by concomitant pancreatitis, but seems to be due to increased PAP production by the cancer cells and is also correlated to tumour load as expressed by the UICC stages.
Epithelial expression of PAP was induced under intestinal mucosal inflammation initiated by exposure to commensal bacteria or DSS as well as inflamed IBD colon. Increased serum level of PAP diagnosed ileal location in active Crohn disease with a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 84% and a negative predictive value of 81%. Elevated serum PAP (> 50 ng/mL) is significantly associated with disease activity and ileal location of Crohn disease.

Zinc Finger HIT-Type Containing 3 (ZNHIT3) which contains one HIT-type zinc finger, requires the presence of thyroid hormone for its interaction. Thyroid receptor interacting proteins particularly interact with the ligand binding domain of the thyroid receptor (TR).

Rhodanese is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme that is encoded by the nucleus. Rhodanese is involved in cyanide detoxification, the formation of iron-sulfur proteins, and the modification of sulfur-containing enzymes. Rhodanese catalyzes the chemical reaction of thiosulfate & cyanide to sulfite & thiocyanate (detoxification). Rhodanese is part of the transferase family of proteins. Rhodanese includes two highly conservative domains, identified as rhodanese homology domains. In mammals, the majority of cyanide is converted to thiocyanate. Rhodanese has weak mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase activity.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies.
When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

HTATIP2 is part of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family which acts as a tumor suppressor in metabolic suppression, inhibition of angiogenesis and induces the expression of apoptosis related genes Bad and Siva. HTATIP2 cooperates with the activation domain of HIV-1 TAT and enhances its transcription by phosphorylating RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Defects in HTATIP2 are related with hepatocellular carcinomas and apoptotic resistant tumor cells, implicating a probable use for HTATIP2 in antitumor therapy.

Vimentin expression in human malignant glioma cells depends on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Vimentin and detyrosinated microtubules provide structural support for the extensive microtentacles observed in detached tumor cells and a mechanism to promote successful metastatic spread. Primary colorectal carcinomas display aberrant expression of vimentin, and have activated Notch and TGFbeta signaling pathways. Vimentin is a strong arterial substrate for transglutaminases. Transglutaminase-mediated vimentin dimerization results in a novel unifying pathway by which vasodilatory and remodeling responses may be regulated. Ablation of vimentin expression inhibits migration and invasion of colon and breast cancer cell lines. Vimentin is the main intermediate filament protein in mesenchymal cells and is therefore of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms.

Human Oxytocin stimulates uterine smooth muscle contractions indirectly and stimulates the mammary glands to increase lactation without increasing the production of milk.

PDGFRa is a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor for PDGF family members. PDGFRa binds to both A and B subunits of PDGF. It is known that PDGFRa is vital for kidney development since mice heterozygous for the receptor display defective kidney phenotypes.

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.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 is the principal inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator(tPA) and uPA, the activators of plasminogenand hence fibrinolysis(the physiological breakdown of blood clots). It is a serine protease inhibitor(serpin) protein (SERPINE1). The other PAI, plasminogen activator inhibitor-2(PAI-2) is secreted by the placentaand only present in significant amounts during pregnancy. In addition, protease nexinacts as an inhibitor of tPA. SERPINE1, however, is the main inhibitor of the plasminogen activators.