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PTX3 is part of the pentraxin family sharing the C-terminal domain with short pentraxins and containing a unique N-terminal domain. PTX3 is produced and released at inflammatory sites by various cell types including monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and adipocytes. PTX3 is involved in the regulation of innate resistance to pathogens, inflammatory reactions, possibly clearance of self-components and female fertility. PTX3 is used as a marker for disease activity of psoriasis. High serum PTX3 levels are associated with the disease severity of systemic sclerosis. Elevated serum PTX3 is associated with pulmonary fungal infections.

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

Adiponectin, also known as Acrp30, AdipoQ and GBP-28, is a 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). Adiponectin is a part of the soluble defense collagen super family; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. APM-1 forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum.

HIBCH enzyme is in charge of hydrolysis of both HIBYL-CoA and beta-hydroxypropionyl-CoA. Damages in the HIBCH gene linked to 3-hyroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase deficiency. Multiple transcript variants exist as a result of alternative splicing.

Hydroxylysine Kinase, also known as HYKK, is a Protein Coding gene. HYKK which is a part of the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase family catalyzes the GTPdependent phosphorylation of 5-hydroxy-L-lysine.

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.

CD5 antigen-like (CD5L) participates in the regulation of the immune system. CD5L functions as an inhibitor of apoptosis. CD5L is expressed in the spleen, lymph node, thymus and bone marrow.

HAGH is a part of the glyoxalase family and a thiolesterase which hydrolyses S-lactoyl-glutathione to reduced glutathione and D-lactate. HAGH protein is a detoxifying enzyme of glycolysis byproduct methylglyoxal and a target of p63 and p73 and serves as a pro-survival factor of the p53 family. HAGH appears only as a monomer and binds two zinc ions per subunit.

a-Synuclein (amino acids 1-140), an acidic neuronal protein of 140 amino acids, is extremely heat-resistant and is natively unfolded with an extended structure primarily composed of random coils. a-synuclein has been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, and more recently, to be an important regulatory component of vesicular transport in neuronal cells. Moreover, recent studies have shown that a-synuclein has chaperone activity and that this activity is lost upon removing its C-terminal acidic tail (amino acids 96-140).

EDN3 interacts with endothelin receptor B, on the surface of cells. Throughout embryonic development, EDN3 takes part in neural crest cells that migrate from the developing spinal cord to specific regions in the embryo, where they give rise to many different types of cells. EDN3 and EDN3R are necessary for the formation of nerves in the large intestine (enteric nerves) and melanocytes (produce melanin). Mutations in the EDN3 gene is linked with Waardenburg syndrome, type IV that is characterized by changes in skin, hair, and eye coloring. Mutations in the EDN3 gene is linked with Hirschsprung disease that causes severe constipation or intestinal blockage.

The somatomedins, or insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), comprise a family of peptides that play important roles in mammalian growth and development. IGF1 mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of growth hormone (GH; MIM 139250). Early studies showed that growth hormone did not directly stimulate the incorporation of sulfate into cartilage, but rather acted through a serum factor, termed 'sulfation factor,' which later became known as 'somatomedin' (Daughaday et al., 1972). Three main somatomedins have been characterized: somatomedin C (IGF1), somatomedin A (IGF2; MIM 147470), and somatomedin B (MIM 193190) (Rotwein, 1986; Rosenfeld, 2003).

GH is a member of the somatotropin/prolactin family of hormones which play an important role in growth control. The gene, along with four other related genes, is located at the growth hormone locus on chromosome 17 where they are interspersed in the same transcriptional orientation; an arrangement which is thought to have evolved by a series of gene duplications. The five genes share a remarkably high degree of sequence identity. Alternative splicing generates additional isoforms of each of the five growth hormones, leading to further diversity and potential for specialization. This particular family member is expressed in the pituitary but not in placental tissue as is the case for the other four genes in the growth hormone locus. Mutations in or deletions of the gene lead to growth hormone deficiency and short stature.

Adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) is an enzyme which converts adenylosuccinate to AMP and fumarate as part of the purine nucleotide cycle. ADSL is involved in both de novo synthesis of purines and formation of adenosine monophosphate from inosine monophosphate. ADSL catalyzes 2 reactions in AMP biosynthesis: the removal of a fumarate from succinylaminoimidazole carboxamide (SAICA) ribotide to yield aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide (AICA) and removal of fumarate from adenylosuccinate to yield AMP. Defects in the ADSL are the cause of adenylosuccinase deficiency (ADSL deficiency). ADSL deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder distinguished by the accumulation in the body fluids of succinylaminoimidazole-carboxamide riboside (SAICA-riboside) and succinyladenosine (S-Ado). Adenylosuccinase deficiency results in succinylpurinemic autism, psychomotor retardation, and in some cases, growth retardation associated with muscle wasting and epilepsy.

Heat Shock Transcription Factor, Y-Linked 1 (HSFY1) is a member of the heat shock factor (HSF) family of transcriptional activators for heat shock proteins. HSFY1 is localizes to an area of chromosome Y which is from time to time deleted in infertile males and therefore is considered a gene for azoospermia. The genome has 2 identical duplicates of HSFY1 within a palindromic area.

PCYT2 is a member of the cytidylyltransferase family. PCYT2 is an enzyme which catalyzes the formation of CDP-MEA from CTP and phospho MEA in the Kennedy pathway of phospholipid synthesis. PCYT2 has the strongest expression in the liver, heart, and skeletal muscle.

Listeriolysin O (aka LLO) is a hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, the pathogen responsible for causing listeriosis. The toxin may be regarded as a virulence factor, since it is crucial for the virulence of L. monocytogenes. LLO is a single polypeptide protein encoded by the hlyA gene and composed of 529 residues. LLO is a thiol-activated cholesterol-dependent pore forming toxin protein; therefore, it is activated by reducing agents and inhibited by oxidizing agents. Still, LLO differs from other thiol-activated toxins, as its cytolytic activity is maximized at a pH of 5.5. Inside the acidic phagosomes (average pH ~ 5.9) of cells that have phagocytosed L. monocytogenes, LLO is selectively activated by maximizing activity at a pH of 5.5. Following the phagosome lysis by LLO, the bacterium breaks out into the cytosol, where it is able to grow intracellularly, and the toxin has reduced activity in the more basic cytosol. Thus, LLO permits L. monocytogenes to break out from the phagosomes into the cytosol without harming the plasma membrane of the infected cell, which allows the bacteria to live intracellularly, where they are sheltered from extracellular immune system factors such as the complement system and antibodies. LLO also brings about dephosphorylation of histone H3 and deacetylation of histone H4 in the early phases of infection, before entry of L. monocytogenes into the host cell. The pore-forming activity is not implicated in causing the histone modifications. The modifications of the histones affect the down regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in the inflammatory response. Therefore, LLO may be significant in subverting the host immune response to L. monocytogenes. At its NH2-terminus it possesses a 25 residues long typical signal sequence excited during the secretion process. Moreover, in its NH2-terminus there is also a 19 amino acids PEST- like sequence that may target this toxin for degradation. The PEST-like sequence found in LLO and is considered crucial for virulence, given that mutants lacking the sequence lysed the host cell. Nevertheless, contrary to PEST's supposed role in protein degradation, evidence implies that the PEST-like sequence may control LLO production in the cytosol rather than increase degradation of LLO.

TNFRSF13B (TACI) is a transmembrane receptor protein found predominantly on the surface of B cells (a significant part of the immune system). TACI was at first discovered owing to its ability to interact with calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML). Later on, it was found that TACI plays a key role in humoral immunity by interacting with two members of the TNF family. Also, TACI controls T cell-independent B cell antibody responses, isotype switching, and B cell homeostasis.

BMP2 belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) superfamily. Bone morphogenic protein induces bone formation. BMP2 is a candidate gene for the autosomal dominant disease of fibrodysplasia (myositis) ossificans progressiva.

HGF, also known as scatter factor (SF) and Hepatocyte growth factor, is secreted from mesenchymal cells, targets and acts mainly on epithelial and endothelial cells. The protein is a paracrine cellular growth, motility and morphogenic factor. HGF can also be part of haemopoietic progenitor cells and T cells. HGF has a crucial role in embryonic organ development, mainly in myogenesis. In adults HGF takes part in organ regeneration and wound healing.

IL-17Ealso called IL-25,has a sequence similarity with IL17. IL-17E indluces NF-kappaB activation, and stimulates the production of IL-8. IL17E and IL17B are ligands for the cytokine receptor IL17BR. IL-25 is a proinflammatory cytokine favoring Th2-type immune response. The upregulation of costimulation-induced IL-17E receptors and release of cytokines and chemokines from IL-17E treated costimulated Th cells are differentially regulated by intracellular JNK, p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB activity. Blocking Iinterleukin-25 prevents airway hyperresponsiveness, a critical feature of clinical asthma. IL25 produced by innate effector eosinophils and basophils increase the allergic inflammation by enhancing the maintenance and functions of TSLP-DC activated adaptive Th2 memory cells. Over expression of IL-25 up-regulates gene expression of Th2 cytokines and induces growth retardation, jaundice, and multiorgan inflammation in a transgenic mouse model. IL-25 contributes to the induction and maintenance of eosinophilic inflammation by acting on lung fibroblasts which supports the fact that IL-17E is an important factor in asthma pathophysiology. IL-17E operates by amplifying TH2 cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation but doesn’t induce allergic inflammation in vivo.

DHH is part of the Hedgehog family which encodes signaling molecules that are involved in regulating morphogenesis. DHH protein is a precursor that is autocatalytically cleaved, the N-terminal portion is soluble and contains the signalling activity while the C-terminal portion is involved in precursor processing. Additionally, the C-terminal product covalently attaches a cholesterol moiety to the N-terminal product, restricting the N-terminal product to the cell surface and preventing it from freely diffusing throughout the organism. Defects in DHH protein have been associated with partial gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) accompanied by minifascicular polyneuropathy. DHH plays a role both male gonadal differentiation and perineurial development.
DHH plays a role in intercellular signaling which is essential for a variety of patterning events during development. DHH functions as a spermatocyte survival factor in the testes & is essential for testes development.

TNFRSF13B (TACI) is a transmembrane receptor protein found predominantly on the surface of B cells (a significant part of the immune system). TACI was at first discovered owing to its ability to interact with calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand (CAML). Later on, it was found that TACI plays a key role in humoral immunity by interacting with two members of the TNF family. Also, TACI controls T cell-independent B cell antibody responses, isotype switching, and B cell homeostasis.