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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).

E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF4 (RNF4) contains a RING finger motif and functions as a transcription regulator. RNF4 interacts with, and inhibits the activity of, TRPS1, a transcription suppressor of GATA-mediated transcription. Transcription repressor ZNF278/PATZ also interacts with the RNF4 protein thus reducing the enhancement of androgen receptor-dependent transcription mediated by RNF4. RNF4 is broadly expressed at low levels in many tissues and highly expressed in the testis.

Ipamorelin is a peptide selective agonist of the ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor and a growth hormone secretagogue. Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide that was derived from GHRP1. Ipamorelin significantly increases plasma growth hormone levels in both animals and humans. Like pralmorelin and GHRP-6, ipamorelin does not affect prolactin, FSH, LH or TSH levels. However, unlike GHRP2 and GHRP6, but as growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), ipamorelin does not stimulate the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or cortisol, and is highly selective for inducing the secretion only of GH.

Human Adiponectin is a secreted protein expressed exclusively in differentiated adipocyte (adipokine). Adiponectin contains a modular structure comprising an N-terminal collagenous domain followed by a C-terminal globular domain. APM-1 plays a role in various physiological processes such as energy homeostasis and obesity. Plasma levels of adiponectin are reduced in obese humans, and decreased levels are associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.

LIN28 plays an important role as a 'translational enhancer', leading specific mRNAs to polysomes and therefore increasing the competence of protein synthesis. LIN28 is a marker of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells and it enhances the efficiency of the formation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from human fibroblasts. LIN28 binds to the let-7 pre-miRNA and blocks production of the mature let-7 microRNA in mouse embryonic stem cells. Overexpression of LIN28 is associated with human germ-cell tumors.

NFATC1 is a component of the nuclear factor of activated T cells DNA-binding transcription complex. This complex consists of at least 2 components: a preexisting cytosolic component that translocates to the nucleus upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, and an inducible nuclear component. Proteins belonging to this family of transcription factors play an essential role in inducible gene transcription during immune response. NFATC1 is an inducible nuclear component. NFATC1 functions as a major molecular target for the immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin A. Different isoforms of NFATC1 may regulate inducible expression of different cytokine genes.

AFP is normally synthesized in the liver, intestinal tract, and yolk sac of the fetus. Antibody to AFP has been shown to be useful in detecting hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and germ cell neoplasms, especially yolk sac tumors.

Testican-3 (Spock3) is a nervous system-expressed heparan sulfate proteoglycan belonging to a subgroup of the BM-40/SPARC/osteonectin family, whose role of in brain development is unclear. Spock3 inhibits the processing of pro-matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2) by MT1-MMP and MT3-MMP. Spock3 is mostly confined to the developmental stage of the brain.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 3 (BMP3) is one of the BMPs, some of which are members of the TGF-beta superfamily (BMP2-7). There are more than 13 BMPs, which are involved in inducing cartilage and bone formation, embryogenesis and morphogenesis of various tissues and organs. In addition, BMPs regulate the growth, differentiation, chemotaxis, and apoptosis of various cell types. Akin to most other TGF-beta family proteins, BMPs are extremely conserved across animal species. At the amino acid sequence level, mature human and rat BMP3 are 98% identical.

"Epiregulin is part of the EGF family. Epiregulin functions as a ligand of EGFR, as well as a ligand of most members of the ERBB (v-erb-b2 oncogene homolog) family of tyrosine-kinase receptors.Epiregulin is expressed mostly in the placenta and peripheral blood leukocytes and in specific carcinomas of the bladder, lung, kidney and colon. Epiregulin stimulates the proliferation of keratinocytes, hepatocytes, fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. Epiregulin inhibits the growth of several tumor-derived epithelial cell lines. Human Epiregulin is initially synthesized as a glycosylated 19.0 kDa transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a 6.0 kDa mature secreted sequence."

FGF-basic is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members bind heparin and possess broad mitogenic and angiogenic activities. This protein has been implicated in diverse biological processes, such as limb and nervous system development, wound healing, and tumor growth. The mRNA for this gene contains multiple polyadenylation sites, and is alternatively translated from AUG and non-AUG (CUG) initiation codons resulting in 5 different isoforms with distinct properties. The CUG-initiated isoforms are localized in the nucleus and are responsible for the intracrine effect, whereas, the AUG-initiated form is mostly cytosolic and is responsible for the paracrine and autocrine effects of this FGF.
The heparin-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. there are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit VB (COX5B) is the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. COX5B is a multi-subunit enzyme complex which couples the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to molecular oxygen and contributes to a proton electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. There are two isoforms of COX5:COX5a and COX5b. Transcription of COX5A (the aerobic isoform) is up-regulated as the rate of cellular respiration increases, when oxygen levels within the cell are high. However, when oxygen levels are low, COX5B (the hypoxic isoform) transcription increases and functions to maximize the turnover rate of the COX apoenzyme.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) is a part of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family. IGFBP4 includes an IGFBP domain and a thyroglobulin type-I domain. IGFBP4 binds both insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II. IGFBP-4 circulates in the plasma in both glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms. IGFBPs can either inhibit or enhance the biological activities of IGF, or act in an IGF independent manner. IGFBP-4 is consistently inhibits several cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that it may function as an apoptotic factor. IGFBP4 is produced by all colon cancer cells. Binding of IGFBP-4 prolongs the half-life of the IGFs and changes their interaction with cell surface receptors.

GMCSF is a cytokine that controls the production, differentiation, and function of granulocytes and macrophages. The active form of the protein is found extracellularly as a homodimer. This gene has been localized to a cluster of related genes at chromosome region 5q31, which is known to be associated with interstitial deletions in the 5q- syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia. Other genes in the cluster include those encoding interleukins 4, 5, and 13. GM-CSF stimulates the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells from various lineages, including granulocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and erythrocytes.

IFIH1 is a DEAD box protein which is upregulated in response to treatment with beta-interferon and a protein kinase C-activating compound, mezerein. Irreversible reprogramming of melanomas can be attained by therapy with both these agents; treatment with either agent alone only achieves reversible differentiation. DEAD box proteins are implicated in several cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly.

TGFB2 is a 27.08 kDa protein having two identical 118 amino acid peptide chains linked by a single disulfide bond. TGFB2 is part of a family of five related cytokines that have an extensive variation of normal and neoplastic cells, indicating the importance of these homo-dimmer proteins as multi-functional regulators of cellular activity. The three mammalian isoforms of TGF-β (TGFb1, TGFb2 and TGFb3) signal through the same receptor and stimulate similar biological responses. They are involved in physiological processes as embryogenesis, tissue remodelling and wound healing.

CXCL14 is involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. BRAK protein is structurally related to the CXC (Cys-X-Cys) subfamily of cytokines. CXCL14 displays chemotactic activity for monocytes but not for lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils or macrophages. CXCL14 is involved in the homeostasis of monocyte-derived macrophages.

Cystatin 5 (CST5) is a novel member of the cystatin superfamily, which encompasses proteins that contain multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost or possibly never had this inhibitory activity. The superfamily is comprised of 3 inhibitory families: the type 1 cystatins (stefins), type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. Type 2 cystatin proteins are a class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in various human fluids and secretions.

Diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase (MVD) catalyzes the conversion of mevalonate pyrophosphate into isopentenyl pyrophosphate in one of the early steps in cholesterol biosynthesis. MVD decarboxylates and dehydrates its substrate while hydrolyzing ATP. MVD is expressed in the heart, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, brain, pancreas, kidney and placenta.

SLC3A2, also known as Solute Carrier Family 3 Member 2, is a single-pass type II membrane protein which is part of the SLC3A transporter family. SLC3A2 is expressed ubiquitously in all tissues tested with the highest levels detected in kidney, placenta and testis and lowest level in thymus. SLC3A2 is essential for the function of light chain amino-acid transporters and also takes part in sodium-independent, high-affinity transport of large neutral amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, arginine and tryptophan. SLC3A2 participates in guiding and targeting of LAT1 and LAT2 to the plasma membrane.

FGF22 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. The mouse homolog of this gene was found to be preferentially expressed in the inner root sheath of the hair follicle, which suggested a role in hair development.

SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor.
The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.

SNAPIN is involved in the neurotransmitter release process through its modulation of the sequential interactions between the SNAREs and synaptotagmin. SNAPIN is part of the SNARE complex of proteins that is needed for synaptic vesicle docking and fusion. SNAPAP is enriched in neurons and exclusively located on synaptic vesicle membrane protein. SNAPIN is also an important factor of the BLOC1 multisubunit protein complex. BLOC1 is required for normal biogenesis of specialized organelles of the endosomal-lysosomal system, such as melanosomes and platelet dense granules.