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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, and cancer.

PLGF is a growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration. It binds to receptor vegfr-1/flt1.
PLGF-2 binds neuropilin-1 and 2 in a heparin-dependent manner.

Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. CSF-1 induces cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. It plays a role in immunological defenses, bone metabolism, lipoproteins clearance, fertility and pregnancy.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor which regulates both cell growth and cell motility. It exerts a strong mitogenic effect on hepatocytes and primary epithelial cells. HGF synergizes with Interleukin-3 and GM-CSF to stimulate colony formation of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro and may, therefore, also modulate hematopoiesis. HGF is secreted as a single inactive polypeptide which is cleaved by serine proteases into a 69kDa Alpha chain and 34kDa Beta chain. A disulfide bond linking the alpha and beta chains produces the active heterodimeric molecule.

BID is a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein having only the BH3 domain. In reaction to apoptotic signaling, BID interacts with another Bcl-2 family of cell death regulators, called Bax, they form a heterodimer resulting to the insertion of Bax into the outer mitochondrial membrane. Bax induces the opening of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel which lead to the release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondria resulting in activation of caspases. BID is a mediator of mitochondrial damage induced by caspase-8 (CASP8). CASP8 cleaves BID, and the COOH-terminal part translocates to mitochondria where it triggers cytochrome c release. The major proteolytic product p15 BID releasea cytochrome c. Isoform 1, Isoform 2 and Isoform 4 induce ice-like proteases and apoptosis while Isoform 3 does not induce apoptosis.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

LGALS2 is a soluble beta-galactoside binding lectin that controls cell-to-cell adhesion and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions and takes part in tumor progression, pre-mRNA splicing and apoptosis. LGALS2 induces apoptosis in activated T cells and binds to the cytokine lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) with threat of myocardial infarction.

FGF8 is part of the fibroblast growth factor family. FGF family members have wide mitogenic and cell survival activities, and participate in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF8 supports androgen and anchorage independent growth of mammary tumor cells. FGF8 over expression increases tumor growth and angiogensis. The adult expression of FGF-8 gene is restricted to testes and ovaries. FGF8 functions as an embryonic epithelial factor. FGF8 takes part in midbrain and limb development, organogenesis, embryo gastrulation and left-right axis determination.

PLGF is a growth factor active in angiogenesis, and endothelial cell growth, stimulating their proliferation and migration. It binds to receptor vegfr-1/flt1.
PLGF-2 binds neuropilin-1 and 2 in a dependent way.

PDGF-BB is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family. The four members of this family are mitogenic factors for cells of mesenchymal origin and are characterized by a motif of eight cysteines. This gene product can exist either as a homodimer (PDGF-BB) or as a heterodimer with the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide (PDGF-AB), where the dimers are connected by disulfide bonds. Mutations in this gene are associated with meningioma. Reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 22 and 7, at sites where this gene and that for COL1A1 are located, are associated with a particular type of skin tumor called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resulting from unregulated expression of growth factor. Two splice variants have been identified for this gene.

Galectin-4 is a member of the subfamily of galectins composed of two carbohydrate recognition domains having similar peptide chains. The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins having a role in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, which inhibits chronic inflammations, GVHD, and allergic responses. LGALS4 expression is limited to small intestine, colon, and rectum, and it is underexpressed in colorectal cancer. LGALS4 binds as an endogenous ligand to glycosphingolipids having 3-O-sulfated Gal residues and bind as well to cholesterol-3-sulfate. LGALS4 takes part in cell adhesion. LGALS4 plays a role in crosslinking the lateral cell membranes of the surface-lining epithelial cells, thus supporting epithelial integrity against mechanical stress exerted by the bowel lume. LGALS4 is in charge of intestinal inflammation via selective regulation of peripheral and mucosal T-cell cell cycle, in addition to cell death by apoptosis of T-cells by a pathway independent of the activation of caspases. LGALS4 blockade decreases TNF-alpha inhibitor induced T-cell death. LGALS4 decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion including IL-6 & IL-17.

Persephin is a member of the GDNF ligand subfamily of the TGF-beta superfamily. PSPN encourages the existence and growth of key dopaminergic and motor neurons, as well as taking part in kidney development. Nonetheless, persephin does not support existence of peripheral neurons.

LGALS8 is a prostate-specific antigen that is solely overexpressed in malignant tumors and thus is a supplementary specific identifier of malignancies. LGALS8 is part of the galectin gene family which facilitates both cell-cell and cell matrix interactions in a method parallel to the selectin subgroup of C-type lectins.

Osteoprotegerin acts as decoy receptor for rankl and thereby neutralizes its function in osteoclastogenesis. OPG inhibits the activation of osteoclasts and promotes osteoclast apoptosis in vitro. Bone homeostasis seems to depend on the local rankl/opg ratio. Osteoprotegerin may also play a role in preventing arterial calcification. May act as decoy receptor for trail and protect against apoptosis. Trail binding blocks the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor is a growth factor and/or cytokine produced by the endothelium, macrophages and a number of other immune cells. GCSF stimulates the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and also to stimulate the survival, proliferation, differentiation and function of neutrophil granulocyte progenator cells and mature neutrophils.

NF-kappa-B inhibitor-interacting Ras-like protein 1 (NKIRAS1) is a member of the small GTPase superfamily. NKIRAS1 is an unusual Ras-like protein which acts as a potent regulator of NF-kappa-B activity by thwarting the degradation of NF-kappa-B inhibitor beta (NFKBIB) by most signals, describing why NFKBIB is more resistant to degradation. NKIRAS1 functions by blocking phosphorylation of NFKBIB and mediating cytoplasmic retention of p65/RELA NF-kappa-B subunit. Both GTP- and GDP-bound forms block phosphorylation of NFKBIB.

The galectins are a family of beta-galactoside-binding proteins implicated in modulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Galectin-1 is an autocrine negative growth factor that regulates cell proliferation. Galectin-1 regulates cell apoptosis and cell differentiation. Galectin-1 binds CD45, CD3 and CD4 & inhibits CD45 protein phosphatase activity and therefore the dephosphorylation of lyn kinase. Galectin-1 and its ligands are one of the master regulators of immune responses as T-cell homeostasis and survival, T-cell immune disorders, inflammation and allergies as well as host–pathogen interactions. Galectin-1 expression or overexpression in tumors and/or the tissue surrounding them must be considered as a sign of the malignant tumor progression that is often related to the long-range dissemination of tumoral cells (metastasis), to their dissemination into the surrounding normal tissue, and to tumor immune-escape. Galectin-1 in its oxidized form plays a number of important roles in the regeneration of the central nervous system after injury. The targeted overexpression (or delivery) of Galectin-1 should be considered as a method of choice for the treatment of some kinds of inflammation-related diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies and muscular dystrophies. In contrast, the targeted inhibition of Galectin-1 expression is what should be developed for therapeutic applications against cancer progression. Galectin-1 is thus a promising molecular target for the development of new and original therapeutic tools. There is 88% homology between the human and mouse galectin-1.

FGF-23 is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities and are involved in a variety of biological processes including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF-23 inhibits renal tubular phosphate transport. This gene was identified by its mutations associated with autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets (ADHR), an inherited phosphate wasting disorder. Abnormally high level expression of FGF23 was found in oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (OHO), a phenotypically similar disease caused by abnormal phosphate metabolism. Mutations FGF23 have also been shown to cause familial tumoral calcinosis with hyperphosphatemia.

Endoglin is a type I membrane glycoprotein located on cell surfaces and is part of the TGF beta receptor complex.
The protein consists of a homodimer of 180 kDA with disulfide links. It has been found on endothelial cells, activated macrophages, fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells. Endoglin has been found to be part of the TGF-beta1 receptor complex. It thus may be involved in the binding of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3, activin-A, BMP-2, and BMP-7. Beside TGF-beta signaling endoglin may have other functions. It has been postulated that endoglin is involved in the cytoskeletal organization affecting cell morphology and migration. Endoglin has a role in the development of the cardiovascular system and in vascular remodeling. Its expression is regulated during heart development . Experimental mice without the endoglin gene die due to cardiovascular abnormalities.

Glutathione reductase (GSR) belongs to the class-I pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family. The GSR enzyme is a homodimeric flavoprotein and has a role in maintaining glutathione (GSH) in its reduced form by catalyzing the reduction of glutathione disulfide (GSSG): GSSG + NADPH + H+ ->2GSH + NADP+. In the majority of eukaryotic cells, GSR upholds the ratio of [GSH] / [GSSG], and partakes in quite a few critical functions such as the detoxification of reactive oxygen species as well as protein and DNA biosynthesis.