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Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). It is found at the site of tooth eruption and bone degradation. In the bone, CCL2 is expressed by mature osteoclasts and osteoblasts and is under the control of nuclear factor ?B (NF?B). CCL2 recruits immune cells, such as monocytes, to sites of tissue injury and infection. This chemokine is produced as a protein precursor containing signal peptide of 23 amino acids and a mature peptide of 76 amino acids. It is a monomeric polypeptide, with a molecular weight of approximately 13kDa. As with many other CC chemokines, CCL2 is located on chromosome 17 in humans. The cell surface receptors that bind CCL2 are CCR2 and CCR5.

Syndesmos (NUDT16L1) is a cytoplasmic protein which interacts specifically with the cytoplasmic domain of syndecan-4, and co-localizes with syndecan-4 in focal contacts. NUDT16L1 interacts with the focal adhesion adaptor protein paxillin. The binding of NUDT16L1 to paxillin is direct, and these interactions are triggered by the activation of protein kinase C.

Platelet-activating Factor Acetylhydrolase 1b Catalytic Subunit 3 (PAFAH1B3) is a member of the 'GDSL' lipolytic enzyme family. Acetylhydrolase catalyzes the elimination of an acetyl group from the glycerol backbone of platelet-activating factor. PAFAH1B3, which is a subunit of the platelet-activating factor cetylhydrolase isoform 1B complex, is comprised of the catalytic beta and gamma subunits and the regulatory alpha subunit. The PAFAH1B3 complex has an imperative role during the development of brain.

MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPKAPK3) is involved in inflammatory Reaction by regulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL6 production post-transcriptionally. MAPKAPK3 phosphorylates AU-rich elements (AREs)-binding proteins, like TTP/ZFP36, leading to control of stability and translation of TNF and IL6 mRNAs. Phosphorylation of TTP/ZFP36 (a major post-transcriptional regulator of TNF), promotes its binding to 14-3-3 proteins and reduces its ARE mRNA affinity resulting in inhibition of dependent degradation of ARE-containing transcript. MAPKAPK3 is activated by growth inducers and stress stimulation of cells.

BSND is a vital beta subunit for CLC chloride channels. These heteromeric channels are restricted to basolateral membranes of renal tubules and of potassium-secreting epithelia of the inner ear. BSND gene mutations are linked with Bartter syndrome with sensorineural deafness.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a growth and differentiation factor for both B cells and eosinophils. This cytokine is a main regulator of eosinopoiesis, eosinophil maturation and activation. The elevated production of this cytokine is reported to be related to asthma or hypereosinophilic syndromes. The receptor of this cytokine is a heterodimer, whose beta subunit is shared with the receptors for interleukine 3 (IL3) and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2/GM-CSF). This gene, together with those for interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and CSF2, form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5. This cytokine, IL4, and IL13 are found to be regulated coordinately by long-range regulatory elements spread over 120 kilobases on chromosome 5q31.

IFN Regulatory Factor-5, also known as IRF5 belongs to the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family, a group of transcription factors with various functions, including virus-mediated activation of IFN, and modulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune system activity. Members of the IRF family are characterized by a conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain containing tryptophan (W) repeats. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. In addition, IRF5 is implicated in the induction of IFNs IFNA and INFB and inflammatory cytokines upon virus infection. IRF5 is activated by TLR7 or TLR8 signaling.

Galectin-16 (LGALS16) binds lactose with high affinity. LGALS16 is a strong inducer of T-cell apoptosis.

Gastrokine-1 (GKN1) is a member of the gastrokine family. GKN1 has mitogenic activity and is involved in preserving the integrity of the gastric mucosal epithelium. GKN1 is down-regulated in human gastric cancer tissue in comparison to normal gastric mucosa. GKN1 is expressed in the stomach; however no expression is detected in cancer tissue or gastric cancer cell lines.

Chromosome 19 Open Reading Frame 80 (C19ORF80) is a significant new regulator of lipid metabolism which regulates serum triglyceride levels, possibly by promoting ANGPTL3 cleavage. C19ORF80 belongs to the ANGPTL protein family. C19ORF80 is a hormone which specifically promotes pancreatic beta cell proliferation and beta cell mass expansion, thus improving glucose tolerance. C19ORF80 is mainly expressed in the liver; it is also expressed in adipose tissues. C19ORF80 is expressed in response to food intake and stimulated by insulin.

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.

EPCAM is a carcinoma-associated antigen and belongs to a family which includes at least 2 type I membrane proteins. The EPCAM protein has a role in embryonic stem cells proliferation and differentiation. EPCAM is used as a target for immunotherapy treatment of human carcinomas. EPCAM is expressed on most normal epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas and acts as a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EPCAM) can act as a physical homophilic interaction molecule between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) at the mucosal epithelium for supplying immunological barrier as a first line of defense against mucosal infection. EPCAM gene mutations result in congenital tufting enteropathy.

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.

Neuroglobin, 151 amino acid residue protein, mainly expressed in vertebrate brain and retina, is a recently identified member of the globin superfamily. Augmenting O (2) supply, neuroglobin promotes survival of neurons upon hypoxic injury, potentially limiting brain damage. Moreover, neuroglobin may be a novel oxidative stress-responsive sensor for signal transduction in the brain. Neuroglobin expression is increased by neuronal hypoxia in vitro and focal cerebral ischemia in vivo, and neuronal survival after hypoxia is reduced by inhibiting neuroglobin expression with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide and enhanced by neuroglobin overexpression.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor 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. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The 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.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the TNF-receptor superfamily. This receptor contributes to the clonal expansion, survival, and development of T cells. It can also induce proliferation in peripheral monocytes, enhance T cell apoptosis induced by TCR/CD3 triggered activation, and regulate CD28 co-stimulation to promote Th1 cell responses. The expression of this receptor is induced by lymphocyte activation. TRAF adaptor proteins have been shown to bind to this receptor and transduce the signals leading to activation of NF-kappaB.

IL-17F having an accession number of Q96PD4 is a cytokine that shares sequence similarity with IL17. IL-17F is expressed by activated T cells, and has been shown to stimulate the production of several other cytokines, including IL6, IL8, and CSF2/GM_CSF. IL-17F inhibits the angiogenesis of endothelial cells and induce endothelial cells to produce IL2, TGFB1/TGFB, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. IL-17F induces stromal cells to produce proinflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines. Intestinal IL17F gene expression is increased in active CD.
IL-17A & IL-17F alleles influence the susceptibility to and pathophysiological features of ulcerative colitis independently. IL-17F and MIF gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with the development of functional dyspepsia.
The initiation of IL-17F/IL-17R signaling pathway requires the receptor ubiquitination by TRAF6. IL-17F induces expression of IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) by activating Raf1-mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2-extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2-p90 ribosomal S6 kinase-cyclic AMP response element-binding protein signaling pathway.

Methionine sulfoxide reductase B1 (SEPX1 or MSRB1), is a selenoprotein that contains a selenocysteine (Sec) residue at its active site. The selenocysteine is encoded by the UGA codon that usually signals translation termination. SEPX1 is a member of the methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MsrB) family, and is expressed in an assortment of adult and fetal tissues. MSRs (Methionine sulfoxide reductases) catalyze the reduction of free and protein-bound methionine sulfoxides to corresponding methionines. The oxidation of methionine by ROS creates a diastereomeric mixture of methionine-S-sulfoxide (Met-S-SO) and methionine-R-sulfoxide (Met-R-SO). Two separate enzyme families evolved for reduction of these sulfoxides, with methionine-S-sulfoxide reductase (MsrA) being stereospecific for Met-S-SO and methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase (MsrB) for Met-R-SO.

Heparan Sulfate 3-O-Sulfotransferase 1 (HS3ST1), is sulfotransferase which uses 3'-phospho-5'-adenylyl sulfate (PAPS) to catalyze the transfer of a sulfo group to position 3 of glucosamine residues in heparan. HS3ST1 catalyzes the rate limiting step in the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate (HSact). This modification is a vital part in the biosynthesis of anticoagulant heparan sulfate since it concludes the structure of the antithrombin pentasaccharide binding site.

SF3B14 is a 125 amino acid nuclear protein which is a component of the splicing factor 3b complex. Splicing factor 3b is involved with s with both the U2 and U11/U12 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes (U2 snRNP) of spliceosomes. SF3B14 which is required for the splicing of pre-mRNA enters the spliceosome and connect with the pre-mRNA branch site facilitating the interaction of snRNP with the branch sites of U2 and U12 of the 17S U2 and the 18S U11/U12 snRNP complex.

Interfereon alpha 7 (IFNA7) is a member of the alpha/beta interferon family. IFNA7 is generated by macrophages. IFN-alpha has antiviral functions. Interferon promotes the production of 2 enzymes: a protein kinase and an oligoadenylate synthetase.

OTOR proteins is also known as fibrocyte-derived protein (Fdp) and Melanoma inhibitory activity-like (MIAL). Otoraplin is a member of the melanoma-inhibiting activity gene family. Otoraplin is a secreted 16 kDa globular protein that is expressed in the inner ear by periotic mesenchyme and developing and mature fibrocytes. OTOR is highly homologous to MIA/cartilage-derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP), which is a cartilage-specific protein that is also expressed in malignant melanoma cells. The 111 amino acid mature human otoraplin contains 1 SH3 domain (46 – 107 amino acids) and a Tyr at position 50 that is reportedly sulfated. Otoraplin takes pasrt in the initiation of periotic mesenchyme chondrogenesis.
Otoraplin is secreted through the Golgi apparatus and plays a role in cartilage development and maintenance. A frequent polymorphism in the translation start codon of OTOR can abolish translation and may be associated with forms of deafness.

Threonyl-tRNA Synthetase is a member of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family, key enzymes of protein biosynthesis which charge tRNA molecules with the respective amino acids. This 83 kDa protein is an autoantigen recognized by PL-7 antibodies which occur in a subset of patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Preliminary data suggest that PL-7 antibodies (similar to Jo-1 antibodies) indicate an increased risk for lung involvement, but this needs to be confirmed for a larger number of cases.

TICAM2 belongs to the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) family, a group of proteins which include the Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TICAM2, a cytoplasmic protein, physically bonds TLR4 and TICAM-1 and functionally transfers LPS-TLR4 signaling to TICAM-1, that sequentially activates IRF-3. TICAM2 takes part in IL1-triggered NF-kappa-B activation, operating upstream of IRAK1, IRAK2, TRAF6, and IKBKB.