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Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

BST2 takes part in the growth and development of B-cells. The human cellular protein BST2 inhibits retrovirus infection by maintaining the diffusion of virus particles after budding from infected cells. BST2 was originally discovered as an inhibitor to HIV-1 infection in the absence of Vpu, but it is also known to inhibit the release of other viruses such as the Lassa and Marburg virions. In addition, BST2 has a part in B-cell activation in rheumatoid arthritis.

BTC is a potent mitogen for retinal pigment epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. The effects of betacellulin are mediated by the EGF receptor and other related receptors.

FAS or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 or TNFRSF6, is part of the death receptor family, which is part of the TNF receptor protein family. TNFRSF6 has a crucial part in regulating viral infections. FAS protein can be found in almost all cell types, when its cognate ligand (FasL) can be found in activated T cells, NK cells & dendritic cells. The regulating protein of FasL & TRAIL on HCMV-infected dendritic enhances direct destruction of activated T lymphocytes. furthermore, subvertneutrophil function in HCMV retinitis can occur when FasL is activated in HCMV infected retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Complement C1q Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Protein 5 (C1QTNF5) encodes a short-chain collagen which is expressed mainly in sub-retinal pigment epithelium, ciliary epithelium and adipose tissue. C1QTNF5 is increased in mtDNA-depleted myocytes and stimulates the phosphorylation of AMP activated protein kinase. C1QTNF5 takespart in the adhesion of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to the Bruch Membrane. Mutations in C1QTNF5 have been associated with late-onset retinal degeneration.

TCEAL3 belongs to the transcription elongation factor A (SII)-like (TCEAL) gene family. TCEAL family members hold TFA domains and operate as nuclear phosphoproteins which control transcription in a promoter context-dependent fashion. Various family members are situated in the X chromosome.

RAN is a GTP-binding protein that participates in nucleocytoplasmic transport. RAN is necessary for the import of protein into the nucleus and also for RNA export. RAN takes part in chromatin condensation and control of cell cycle. The RAN complex with BIRC5 participates in mitotic spindle formation by being as a physical scaffold to assist the delivery of the RAN effector molecule TPX2 to microtubules. RUN increases AR-mediated transactivation.

GDF15 is part of the TGF-Beta superfamily which is involved in regulating inflammatory and apoptotic pathways in injured tissues and throughout disease processes. GDF15 is most abundant in the liver. Its expression in liver can be considerably up-regulated in during injury of organs such as liver, kidney, heart and lung. GDF-15 promotes proliferation or growth arrest and differentiation due to differences in cellular differentiation. GDF15 prevents apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons by activating Akt and inhibiting endogenously active ERK. GDF15 is a novel autocrine/endocrine factor that antagonizes the hypertrophic response and loss of ventricular performance.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

SPARC, an acronym for “secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine”, is also known as osteonectin or BM-40. It is the founding member of a family of secreted matricellular proteins with similar domain structure. The 303 amino acid, 43 kDa protein contains a 17 aa signal sequence, an N-terminal acidic region that binds calcium, a follistatin domain containing Kazal-like sequences, and a C-terminal extracellular calcium (EC) binding domain with two EF-hand motifs. SPARC is produced by fibroblasts, capillary endothelial cells, platelets and macrophages, especially in areas of tissue morphogenesis and remodeling. SPARC shows context-specific effects, but generally inhibits adhesion, spreading and proliferation, and promotes collagen matrix formation. For endothelial cells, SPARC disrupts focal adhesions and binds and sequesters PDGF and VEGF. SPARC is abundantly expressed in bone, where it promotes osteoblast differentiation and inhibits adipogenesis.

Coagulation factor VIII participates in the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation; factor VIII is a cofactor for factor IXa which, in the presence of Ca+2 and phospholipids, converts factor X to the activated form Xa. This gene produces two alternatively spliced transcripts. Transcript variant 1 encodes a large glycoprotein, isoform a, which circulates in plasma and associates with von Willebrand factor in a noncovalent complex. This protein undergoes multiple cleavage events. Transcript variant 2 encodes a putative small protein, isoform b, which consists primarily of the phospholipid binding domain of factor VIIIc. This binding domain is essential for coagulant activity. Defects in this gene results in hemophilia A, a common recessive X-linked coagulation disorder.

Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The OmpA protein is one of the main outer-membrane proteins of a large array of Gram-negative bacteria such as A.salmonicida, Shigella dysenteriae and E.coli.OmpA’s major physiological functions include maintenance of the structural integrity and morphology of the cells and porin activity, as well as a role in conjugation and bacteriophage binding.Achromogenic atypical Aeromonas salmonicida is the causative agent of goldfish ulcer disease.Virulence of this bacterium is associated with the production of a paracrystalline outer membrane A-layer protein.The species specific structural gene for the monomeric form of A-protein was cloned into a pET-3d plasmid in order to express and produce a recombinant form of the protein in E.coli BL21(DE3). The induced protein was isolated from inclusion bodies by a simple solubilization-renaturation procedure and purified by ion exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose to over 95% pure monomeric protein.Recombinant A-protein was compared by biochemical, immunological and molecular methods with the A-protein isolated from atypical A.salmonicida bacterial cells by the glycine and the membrane extraction methods.

C3b is derived from native C3 upon cleavage with the alternative pathway C3 convertase and release of C3a. C3b is essential to the function of all 3complement pathways. Initiation of each pathway generates proteolytic enzyme complexes (C3 convertases) which binds the target surface. These enzymes cleave a peptide bond in C3 releasing the anaphylatoxin C3a and activating C3b. Most of the C3b created during complement activation. Surface-bound C3b is needed in all 3 pathways for effective activation of C5 and formation of C5b-9 complexes which lyse the target cell membrane. Surface-bound C3b and its breakdown products iC3b and C3d are identifyid by various receptors on lymphoid and phagocytic cells which use the C3b ligand to stimulate antigen presentation to cells of the adaptive immune system. It results in an expansion of target-specific B-cell and T-cell populations.

Since April 2012, cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been identified in various countries. Coronaviruses are the cause of the common cold, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and other severe illnesses with high mortality rates, all are classified into coronavirus family. MERS-CoV is a new type of SARS found in the coronavirus family causing severe pneumonia with sudden and serious respiratory illness with high mortality rates as well. Since January 27th 2015, the WHO has reported 956 human cases, including 351 deaths. More cases of the new coronavirus strain are expected. Like in other coronaviruses, large surface spike glycoprotein is a central structural protein of this virus; it is located above the virion surface to bind and enter into the target cell. Spike protein has 2 domains- S1 and S2. The S1 domain is responsible for cellular tropism and interaction with target cell, while the S2 domain is responsible for membrane fusion. The C-terminal of S1 domain contains a receptor binding domain, and is also a potential target for vaccine development and an antigen for diagnosis.

S100A4 is part of the S100 super-family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium binding domains. S100A4 is ubiquitously overexpressed and is localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus. S100A4 is involved in motility, invasion, and tubulin polymerization. Chromosomal rearrangements and altered expression of the S100A4 gene have been implicated in tumor metastasis.

CST9 belongs to the CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic) subfamily. The CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic) protein outlines a new subgroup in the family 2 cystatins of the cystatin superfamily. A few members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, however others have lost or possibly never developed this inhibitory activity. CST9 takes part in hematopoietic differentiation or inflammation and is expressed in heart, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle and pancreas. CST9 is upregulated by LPS in several cancer cell lines, such as promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) and myelomonocytic leukemia.

CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) is a type I membrane protein, which contains a non-ELR motif-containing CXC chemokine domain in its extracellular region. Human and Mouse CXCL16 share a 70% a.a. sequence similarity within their chemokine domains and 49% overall a.a. sequence identity. Functional CXCL16 can be dropped from the cell surface as an approximately 35kDa soluble protein. CXCR6 is the functional receptor for CXCL16. CXCL16 functions as a scavenger receptor on macrophages, which specifically binds to OxLDL (oxidized low density lipoprotein), proposing that CXCL16 may be involved in pathophysiology such as atherogenesis. In addition, CXCL16 induces a strong chemotactic response and calcium mobilization. CXCL16 binds to CXCR6/Bonzo.

EIF1AX is an important eukaryotic translation initiation factor. EIF1AX is essential for the binding of the 43S complex (a 40S subunit, eIF2/GTP/Met-tRNAi and eIF3) to the 5'' end of capped RNA. EIF1AP1 is needed for maximal rate of protein biosynthesis. EIF1AX increases ribosome dissociation into subunits and stabilizes the binding of the initiator Met-tRNA (I) to 40 S ribosomal subunits.

Opticin also known as OPTC is a member of the class III of the small leucine-rich repeat protein (SLRP) family. Members of this family are usually linked with the extracellular matrix. OPTC is attended in significant quantities in the vitreous of the eye and also localizes to the cornea, iris, ciliary body, optic nerve, choroid, retina, and fetal liver. OPTC might noncovalently bind collagen fibrils and regulate fibril morphology, spacing and organization. OPTC is mapped to a an area of chromosome 1 which is linked with the inherited eye diseases age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and posterior column ataxia with retinosa pigmentosa (AXPC1).

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

Podoplanin is a small mucin-like type-1 transmembrane protein, typically expressed in various specialized cell types throughout the body. Podoplanin is a type-I integral membrane glycoprotein with diverse distribution in human tissues. PDPN physiological function is related to its mucin-type character. The homologous protein in other species has been described as a differentiation antigen and influenza-virus receptor.
PDPN is expressed in lymphatic progenitor cells and afterwards during mouse development in lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is a specific marker for lymph vessel endothelial cells. Over-expression of podoplanin significantly elevates endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and tube formation. Inhibition of Podoplanin expression decreases cell adhesion in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells. Podoplanin is used as a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium in histopathology.
Podoplanin expression is increased in nearly all human colon, rectum, and small intestine tumors. AGGRUS may serve as a diagnostic marker that distinguishes seminomas, the majority of which over express the protein, from embryonal carcinoma in testicular germ cell tumors.

TFPI is a protease inhibitor which controls the tissue factor (TF)-dependent pathway of blood coagulation. The coagulation process starts with the creation of a factor VIIa-TF complex, that proteolytically triggers additional proteases (factors IX and X) and eventually results in a fibrin clot. TFPI inhibits the activated factor X and VIIa-TF proteases in an autoregulatory loop. TFPI is glycosylated and predominantly located in the vascular endothelium and plasma in both free forms and complexed with plasma lipoproteins. A number of alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have are known, however the full-length nature of several of these variants were not yet established.