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Lipocalin-2 also called Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) belongs to a family of lipocans which include 25 proteins (including a1-microglobulin and b-lactoglobulin), which are characterized by their ability to bind small lipophilic substances in their hydrophobic core. They thereby serve as transporters of substances like retinal, biliverdins & prostaglandins. There are indications that NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the plasma of patients after stroke.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that belongs to the transferrin family of iron binding proteins. It is found in human breast milk as well as most epithelial surface secretions including tears, nasogastric, saliva, and bronchial. Lactoferrin binds 2 molecules of iron with very high affinity. Lactoferrin inhibits bacterial growth by withholding iron, its N-terminal region is an antimicrobial peptide. Lactotransferrin acts synergistically with lysozyme to potentiate the activity of both proteins. The multifunctional protein lactoferrin has many physiological possible roles. It is often referred to as an innate defense protein and frequently serves as the first line of defense in protection against pathogens. It has been shown to have the ability to bind iron, it is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, it is an antioxidant and it also has immunomodulatory properties. It has many beneficial properties, which make it a good candidate for a number of product applications. Considerable research is currently going on to explain the various suggested biological functions of lactoferrin.

Parathymosin, also known as PTMS is a member of the pro/parathymosin family. PTMS may mediate immune function by blocking the effect of prothymosin alpha which confers resistance to particular opportunistic infections. Among the diseases associated with PTMS are hepatitis b, and alzheimer's disease.

CCL13 chemokine is part of the CC chemokine family (TARC). CCL13 protein induces chemotaxis in monocytes, eosinophils, T lymphocytes, and basophils by binding cell surface G-protein linked chemokine receptors such as CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. CCL13 is induced by the inflammatory cytokines IL1 & TNFA.

VTI1B (v-SNARE) mediates vesicle transport pathways via interactions with t-SNAREs on the target membrane. These interactions are meant to facilitate aspects of the specificity of vesicle trafficking and to stimulate fusion of the lipid bilayers. VTI1B may be involved in increased secretion of cytokines connected with cellular senescence.

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 insulin sensitivity. It has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer.

Numerous forms of Bartonellosis are caused by Bartonella henselae as well as Cat Scratch Disease & Bacillary Angiomatosis. It has been found that up to 95% of patients with Cat Scratch Disease show antibodies against Bartonella henselae antigens.

P17 is the 1st antigen which was discovered to be strongly reactive with sera from Cat Scratch Disease patients. Bartonella henselae participates in host recognition by the type IV secretion system as a homolog of the virB5 family.

Highly immunoreactive proteins which are produced by the Bartonella henselae are the most important antigens used for the diagnosis of Cat Scratch Disease.

Vitronectin (VTN) which is a part of the pexin family is a cell adhesion and spreading factor found in serum and tissues. VTN interacts with glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. VTN inhibits the membrane-damaging effect of the terminal cytolytic complement pathway and binds to numerous serpin serine protease inhibitors. Scientists have been noticed an over expression of VTN, integrins and plasminogen in migrating cells during wound healing.

Exodus-2 protein or CCL21 is a cytokine, part of the CC chemokines subgroup. Because of its 6 conserved residues of the cysteine amino acid (instead of the 4 residues we usually see in chemokines), the protein is also named 6Ckine and SLC (secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine). The gene that codes for this protein is located on chromosome 9 in humans. The Exodus-2 is binding to the CCR7 receptor, which is a chemokine receptor located to the cell’s surface.

Cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC/ NNT-1) belongs to the IL-6 family of cytokines. All family members share the receptor subunit gp130, which belongs to the type I cytokine receptor superfamily. NNT1 is a trophic factor for motor neurons, a stimulator of ACTH release from corticotrophs, and an inducer of IgE synthesis and B cell proliferation. Cells expressing NNT-1 include embryonic muscle, lung epithelium, and mesenchyme. NNT1 binds to and activates the ILST/gp130 receptor.

Insulin Receptor (INSR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase which mediates the pleiotropic actions of insulin. Binding of insulin to the insulin receptor (INSR) stimulates glucose uptake. Once the precursor signal peptide is removed, the insulin receptor precursor is post-translationally cleaved into 2 chains (alpha and beta) which are covalently linked. Insulin binding initiates phosphorylation of several intracellular substrates, including, insulin receptor substrates (IRS1, 2, 3, 4), SHC, GAB1, CBL and other signaling intermediates. Each of these phosphorylated proteins function as docking proteins for other signaling proteins which contain Src-homology-2 domains (SH2 domain) that specifically recognize different phosphotyrosines residues, including the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K and SHP2.

Protein Phosphatase 2C alpha is a member of the PP2C family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases. PP2C family members are known to be negative regulators of cell stress response pathways. This phosphatase dephosphorylates, and negatively regulates the activities of, MAP kinases and MAP kinase kinases. It has been shown to inhibit the activation of p38 and JNK kinase cascades induced by environmental stresses. This phosphatase can also dephosphorylate cyclin-dependent kinases, and thus may be involved in cell cycle control. Overexpression of this phosphatase is reported to activate the expression of the tumor suppressor gene TP53/p53, which leads to G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding two distinct isoforms have been described.
Protein phosphatase 2C(PP2C?) is a Mn2+- or Mg2+-dependent protein serine/threonine phosphatase that is essential for regulating cellular stress response in eukaryotes.

Mediator of ErbB2-driven cell motility 1 (MEMO1) is a member of the UPF0103 family. MEMO1 regulates cell migration by transmitting extracellular chemotactic signals to the microtubule cytoskeleton. Furthermore, MEMO1 controls the localization of APC and CLASP2 to the cell membrane, using the regulation of GSK3B activity. MEMO1 is essential for breast carcinoma cell migration, suggesting a key role in tumorigenesis. MEMO1 is also a mediator of ERBB2 signaling.

CD40L or CD154 is a membrane glycoprotein and differentiation antigen expressed on the surface of T-cells. The CD40 ligand stimulates B-cell proliferation and secretion of all immunoglobulin isotypes in the presence of cytokines . CD40 ligand has been shown to induce cytokine production and tumoricidal activity in peripheral blood monocytes. It also costimulates proliferation of activated T-cells and this is accompanied by the production of IFN-gamma , TNF-alpha , and IL2.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I IFNs.

MORC Family CW-Type Zinc Finger 3 (MORC3) localizes to the nuclear matrix. MORC3 takes part in the regulation of the tumor suppressor protein p53. MORC3may indicate on dermatomyositis (DM) as autoantibodies against this protein have been found in patients.

GMFB is part of the GMF subfamily of the larger actin-binding protein ADF family. GMFB is phosphorylated after phorbol ester stimulation, and is crucial for the nervous system. GMFB causes brain cell differentiation, stimulates neural regeneration and inhibits tumor cell proliferation. GMFB overexpression in astrocytes results in the increase of BDNF production. GMFB expression is increased by exercise, thus BDNF is important for exercise-induction of BDNF.

MOG is a transmembrane protein expressed on the surface of oligodendrocyte cell and on the outermost surface of myelin sheaths. MOG comprises about 0.1% of total CNS myelin protein. The MOG gene is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and is found within the MHC. The MOG gene is found on chromosome 6p21.3-p22. Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein is a glycoprotein thought to be significant in the process of myelinization of nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). MOG peptide (35-55) is highly encephalitogenic and can induce strong T and B cell responses. A single injection of this peptide produces a relapsing- remitting neurologic disease with extensive plaque-like demyelination. Because of the clinical, histophathologic, and immunologic similarities with multiple sclerosis (MS), the MOG induced demyelinating encephalomyelitis may serve as a model for investigating MS.

Delta-Like4 or DLL4 is implicated in the Notch signaling transduction as Notch ligand. DLL4 down regulates endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenic sprouting. DLL4 is crucial for retinal progenitor proliferation &furthermore required for suppressing rod fates in late retinal progenitors & for proper generation of other retinal cell types. Also, at some stages in the spinal cord neurogenesis, DLL4 inhibits V2a interneuron fate.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase 2 cytoplasmic (PAFAH2) has a marked selectivity for phospholipids with short acyl chains at the sn-2 position. PAFAH2 may share a mutual physiologic function with the plasma-type enzyme.

Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 2 (LAIR2) is a secreted, 131 amino acids protein which contains one IglikeC2 type domain, rendering it a member of the Ig superfamily. Even though one is secreted and one is membrane bound, the 2 LAIR proteins are assumed to have evolved from a common gene ancestor and seem to share similar adhesion profiles, suggesting that LAIR2 may compete with LAIR1 for ligand binding. LAIR2 was discovered by its similarity to LAIR1, which is an inhibitory receptor present on mononuclear leukocytes. The LAIR2 gene maps to a region of 19q13.4, dubbed the leukocyte receptor cluster, which contains 29 genes in the immunoglobulin superfamily, including LAIR1. The function of the LAIR2 protein is unknown, though it is assumed to be secreted and may help modulate mucosal tolerance.

Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.