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Collagen triple helix repeat-containing protein 1 or CTHRC1 acts as a negative regulator of collagen matrix deposition. The protein is secreted from a 28kDa protein which is glycosylated and very conserved from lower chordates to mammals. CTHRC1 is found qualitatively in plasma of healthy human subjects. CTHRC1 plasma levels are also significantly elevated during pregnancy, in diabetes, in inflammatory and infectious conditions, in subjects with acute myeloid leukemia but not in subjects with solid cancers.CTHRC1 is highly connected with calcified tissues and cartilaginous matrix, but not with endothelial cells.

MLEC is a member of the malectin family and is found on endoplasmic reticulum membrane. MLEC is a carbohydrate-binding protein with a high ligand preference for Glc2-N-glycan. MLEC takes part in the initial stages of protein N-glycosylation.

Cathepsin F (CTSF) is a member of the peptidase C1 family. Cathepsins are papain family cysteine proteinases which are a main component of the lysosomal proteolytic system. The CTSF gene is ubiquitously expressed, and it maps to chromosome 11q13, close to the gene encoding cathepsin W. CTSF plays a role in normal protein catabolism. CTSF is involved in some degradative processes occurring in tumor progression since it is highly expressed in some cancer cell lines.

Dynein light chain roadblock-type (DYNLRB1) belongs to the roadblock dynein light chain family and encodes a cytoplasmic protein which is capable of binding intermediate chain proteins. Upregulation of the DYNLRB1 gene is linked with hepatocellular carcinomas, suggesting that DYNLRB1 may be involved in tumor progression.

IFNs are cytokines that are widely known to induce potent anti-viral activity. IFN-a exerts a variety of other biological effects, including antitumor and immunomodulatory activities and are increasingly used clinically to treat a range of malignancies, myelodysplasias and autoimmune diseases.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a common precursor for 2 peptides, neuromedin N and neurotensin. Neurotensin is a secreted tridecapeptide, which is generally distributed throughout the central nervous system, and may serve as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator. NTS is involved in dopamine-associated pathophysiological events, in the maintenance of gut structure and function, and in the regulation of fat metabolism. Tissue-specific processing may initiate the formation in some tissues of larger forms of neuromedin N and neurotensin. The large forms may embody more stable peptides which are also biologically active.

TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR or C12ORF5), is a 270 amino acid protein induced by the p53 tumor suppressor pathway that functions to protect against oxidative stress. C12ORF5 specifically functions to block glycolysis, leading the pathway to the pentose phosphate shunt and decreasing the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, it is thought that C12ORF5 may act to modulate the apoptotic response to p53, thus allowing cells to survive mild or transient stresses.

CD68 encodes a 110-kD transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed by human monocytes and tissue macrophages. It is a member of the lysosomal/endosomal-associated membrane glycoprotein (LAMP) family. The protein primarily localizes to lysosomes and endosomes with a smaller fraction circulating to the cell surface. It is a type I integral membrane protein with a heavily glycosylated extracellular domain and binds to tissue- and organ-specific lectins or selectins. The protein is also a member of the scavenger receptor family. Scavenger receptors typically function to clear cellular debris, promote phagocytosis, and mediate the recruitment and activation of macrophages. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcripts encoding different isoforms.

TRIM21 is a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family. The TRIM motif includes three zinc-binding domains, a RING, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. The 52 kDa Ro protein is part of the RoSSA ribonucleoprotein, which includes a single polypeptide and one of four small RNA molecules. The RoSSA particle localizes to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Ro/SSA interacts with autoantigens in patients with Sjogren syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Ribonucleoprotein particle is composed of a single polypeptide and one of four small RNA molecules. The RoSSA is present in all mammalian cells studied but has no known function. At least 2 isoforms are present in nucleated and red blood cells, and tissue specific differences in Ro/SSA proteins were identified.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 3, also known as CEACAM3, is a member of the immunoglobulin super family. The genes in this family encode cell adhesion proteins, which are expressed at higher levels in tumorous tissues rather than in normal tissues. CEACAM3 plays a significant part in the clearance of pathogens through the innate immune system. In addition, CEACAM3 is accountable for RAC1 stimulation in the course of pathogen phagocytosis.

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

TXNL4B is a member of the DIM1 family which has a vital role in pro-mRNA splicing. TXNL4B is required in cell cycle progression for S/G2 transition and interacts with PRPF6 subunit of the spliceosome.

RAB10, Member RAS Oncogene Family (RAB10) belongs to the Ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins. RAB10 is a key regulator of endocytic recycling, particularly in the basolateral recycling pathways of polarized epithelial cells. It is required for the recruitment of CNT-1 to endosomal membranes in the intestinal epithelium.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor belongs to the CCN family of proteins. The CCN family presently consists of six members in human also known as: Cyr61 (Cystein rich 61), CTGF (Connective Tissue Growth Factor), Nov (Nephroblastoma Overexpressed gene), WISP-1, 2 and 3 (Wnt-1 Induced Secreted Proteins). The CCN genes encode secreted proteins associated with the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cell membrane. CCN proteins are matricellular proteins which are involved in the regulation of various cellular functions including: proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion and migration. They are expressed in derivatives of the three embryonic sheets and are implicated in the development of kidney, nervous system, muscle, bone marrow, cartilage and bone. During adulthood, they are implicated in wound healing, bone fracture repair, and pathologies such as: fibrosis, vascular ailments and tumorigenesis.
Full length secreted CCN proteins can show an antiproliferative activity, whereas truncated isoforms are likely to stimulate proliferation and behave as oncogenes. The full length protein consists of four modulesModule I shares partial identity with the N-terminal part of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs).
Module II includes a stretch of 70amino acid residues – which shares sequence identity with the Von Willebrand Factor Type C repeat (VWC).
Module III contains sequences sharing identity with the Thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP1) (WSXCSXXCG), which is thought to be implicated in the binding of sulfated glycoconjugates and to be important for cell adhesion. Module IV, also designated CT, is encoded by exon5. It is the leasts conserved one of the four domains at the level of nucleotide sequence, but it appears to be critical for several of the biological functions attributed to the CCN proteins. Module IV resembles the CT domain of several extracellular protein including, Von Willebrand's factor and mucins. Sequence similarities to heparin-binding motifs are also found within this domain.
Proteolysis of the secreted full-length CCN proteins that has been reported in the case of CCN2 and CCN3 might result in the production of CCN-derived peptides with high affinity for ligands that full-length CNN proteins bind only poorly. Amino-truncated CCN2 isoforms were biologically active whereas no specific biological activity has been attributed to the truncated CCN3. Although the molecular processes underlying the production of these secreted isoforms is presently unknown, it is important to note that proteolysis occur at the same amino acid residues in both CCN2 and CCN3. An elevated expression of CCN2 has also been detected by Northern blotting in human invasive mammary ductal carcinomas, dermatofibromas, pyogenic granuloma, endothelial cells of angiolipomas and angioleiomyomas, and in pancreatic tumors. A study performed with chondrosarcomas representative of various histological grades established that CCN2 expression was closely correlated with increasing levels of malignancy. In agreement with CCN2 playing a role in brain tumor angiogenesis, immunocytochemistry studies indicated that both glioblastoma tumor cells and proliferating endothelial cells stained positive for CCN2. In astrocytomas, CCN2 expression was particularly elevated in high grade tumors, with a marked effect of CCN2 on cell proliferation. Downregulation of CCN2 expression in these cells was associated with a growth arrest at the G1/S transition while over-expression of CCN2 induced a two-fold increase of the number of cells in the G1 phase. Gene profiling analysis allowed to identify a set of about 50 genes whose expression might account for the proliferative activity of CCN2 in these cells. CCN2 was seen in a higher proportion of mononuclear cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Alcohol dehydrogenase 6 (ADH6) belongs to the alcohol dehydrogenase family. Alcohol dehydrogenase family members metabolize a wide variety of substrates, including ethanol, retinol, other aliphatic alcohols, hydroxysteroids, and lipid peroxidation products. ADH6 is expressed in the stomach as well as in the liver, and it contains a glucocorticoid response element upstream of its 5’ UTR, which is a steroid hormone receptor binding site.

TOLLIP is a ubiquitin-binding protein that interacts with several Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling cascade components. TOLLIP regulates inflammatory signaling and is involved in interleukin-1 receptor trafficking and in the turnover of IL1R-associated kinase.

MCM7 is a highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM) vital for eukaryotic genome replication initiation. The MCM proteins form a hexameric protein complex which is a key component of the pre-replication complex (pre_RC) which takes part in replication forks formation and in DNA replication related proteins recruitment. The MCM complex is comprised of MCM2, 4, 6 and 7 proteins and possesses DNA helicase activity, such as DNA unwinding.

CRNN is part of the "fused gene" family of proteins, which enclose N-terminus EF-hand domains and multiple tandem peptide repeats. CRNN contains two EF-hand Ca2+ binding domains in its N-terminus and two glutamine- and threonine-rich 60 amino acid repeats in its C-terminus. CRNN, also known as SEP53, which participates in the mucosal/epithelial immune response and epidermal differentiation. CRNN is a survival factor that participates in the clonogenicity of squamous esophageal epithelium cell lines, attenuates deoxycholic acid (DCA)-induced apoptotic cell death and discharge of calcium. When CRNN is over expressed in oral squamous carcinoma cell lines, it regulates negatively cell proliferation by the induction of G1 arrest.

Alpha crystallins are composed of two gene products ; alpha-A and alpha-B, for acidic and basic, respectively. Alpha crystallins can be induced by heat shock and are members of the small heat shock protein (sHSP also known as the HSP20). They act as molecular chaperones and hold them in in large soluble aggregates. These heterogeneous aggregates consist of 30-40 subunits; the alpha-A and alpha-B subunits have a 3:1 ratio, respectively. Two additional function of a-crystallins are an autokinase activity and participation in the intracellular architecture. Alpha-B is expressed widely in many tissues and organs and occurs in many neurological diseases.

Crystallin, Mu (CRYM) is a taxon-specific crystallin protein which binds NADPH and has sequence similarity to bacterial ornithine cyclodeaminases. CRYM doesn’t perform a structural role in lens tissue; instead CRYM binds thyroid hormone for possible regulatory or developmental roles. CRYM gene mutations are linked with autosomal dominant non-syndromic deafness. CRYM specifically catalyzes the reduction of imine bonds in brain substrates which may include cystathionine ketamine and lanthionine ketamine.

Type 1 cystatins are also called stefins which function as intracellular thiol protease inhibitors. Cystatin-B protein is able to form a dimer stabilized by noncovalent forces, inhibiting papain and cathepsins l, h and b. CSTB protein protects proteases leakage from lysosomes. Mutations in Stefin-B gene cause primary defects in patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (EPM1), a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. CSTB is overexpressed & elevated in the serum of HCC patients. Cystatin-B in vivo has a polymeric structure which is sensitive to the redox environment. Cystatin-B inhibits bone resorption by down-regulating intracellular cathepsin K activity despite increased osteoclast survival. Protein and mRNA levels of stefin B are significantly lower in atypical benign meningiomas. Stefins-A & Stefin-B which belong to the type-1 Cystatins, are up-regulated in lung tumours and thus able to counteract harmful tumour-associated proteolytic activity. Human stefin-A & Stefin-B form amyloid fibrils. Copper binding by stefin-B reduces amyloid fibril formation. A number of alternatively spliced CSTB isoforms were recognized in patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Decreased CSTB activity in EPM1 pathogenesis is controled by cathepsins through increased activity of cathepsin-S & cathepsin-L.

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as Monokine induced by MIG. CXCL9 is a T-cell chemoattractant. It is closely related to two other CXC chemokines called CXCL10 and CXCL11, whose genes are located near the gene for CXCL9 on human chromosome 4. CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 all elicit their chemotactic functions by interacting with the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

Serpin Peptidase Inhibitor, Clade D Member 1 (SERPIND1) is a serine proteinase inhibitor which rapidly inhibits thrombin in the presence of dermatan sulfate. SERPIND1 gene is a member of the serpin gene superfamily. SERPIND1 protein contains 5 exons and 4 introns. SERPIND1 shares homology with antithrombin III and other members of the alpha 1-antitrypsin superfamily. SERPIND1 gene mutations are linked with cofactor II deficiency. SERPIND1 protein is activated by dermatan sulfate, and glycosaminoglycans. Allelic variations in the SERPIND1 gene are linked with cofactor II deficiency.