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Dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2) is a member of the dickkopf family, which has a vital role in vertebrate development, where they locally inhibit Wnt regulated processes such as antero-posterior axial patterning, limb development, somitogenesis and eye formation. In adults, Dkks are involved in bone formation and bone disease, cancer and Alzheimer disease. DKK2 contains 2 cysteine rich regions and is implicated in embryonic development through its interactions with the Wnt signaling pathway. DKK2 may function as either an agonist or antagonist of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, depending on the cellular environment and the presence of the co-factor kremen 2. DKK2 protein activity is also controlled by binding to the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 (LDL-receptor related protein 6).

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

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.

Binds to tnfrsf13b/taci and tnfrsf17/bcma. tnfsf13/april binds to the same 2 receptors, together, they form a 2 ligands -2 receptors pathway involved in the stimulation of b- and t-cell function and the regulation of humoral immunity. A third b-cell specific baff-receptor (baffr/br3) promotes the survival of mature b-cells and the b-cell response. B Lymphocyte Stimulator functions as a potent B-cell growth factor in costimulation assays. Administration of BAFF Human recombinant to mice disrupts splenic B-cell and T-cell zones and results in elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin.

STARD5 is a member of the STARD family of proteins. This family of proteins has 15 different members, all of which hold the distinctive START domain and have a vital part in the metabolism and transport of lipids. The STARD family of proteins has six subfamilies based on their START domain sequences. STARD5 constitute one subfamily, sharing approximately 30% amino acid identity with each other. Even though STARD5 is not sterol-regulated it is induced by endomplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

N-alpha-acetyltransferase 30 (NAA30) is catalytic subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase C (NatC) complex. NAA30 catalyzes acetylation of the N-terminal methionine residues of peptides beginning with Met-Leu-Ala and Met-Leu-Gly. In addition, NAA30 is essential for the lysosomal localization and function of ARL8B. The disease Eastern equine encephalitis has been associated with NAA30.

GREM2 which is a member of the BMP (bone morphogenic protein) antagonist family takes part in regulating organogenesis, body patterning, and tissue differentiation. GREM2 is an antagonist of BMP and like BMPs, BMP antagonists contain cystine knots and typically form homo- and heterodimers. The CAN (cerberus and dan) subfamily of BMP antagonists, is characterized by a C-terminal cystine knot with an 8-membered ring.

ADFP is related with the globule surface membrane material. ADFP is a major constituent of the globule surface. Rise in mRNA levels is one of the initial indications of adipocyte differentiation. Mycobacterium leprae regulates ADFP expression to facilitate the accumulation of lipids within infected macrophages for intracellular survival. ADFP is expressed in lipid droplets of vitamin A-storing hepatic stellate cells and additionally in lipid droplets of steatotic hepatocytes. ADFP expression has a role in clear cell renal carcinoma differentiation. ADFP is a component of the lipid droplets in THP-1 cells.

PDGFRa is a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor for PDGF family members. PDGFRa binds to both A and B subunits of PDGF. It is known that PDGFRa is vital for kidney development since mice heterozygous for the receptor display defective kidney phenotypes.

CRP is an acute phase protein that correlates with inflammatory disease and is synthesized by hepatocytes during the acute phase response by certain cytokines (IL-1 and TNF Alpha and Beta). CRP levels increase dramatically (up to 1,000 fold) and serve as a useful marker of inflammation in such conditions as bacterial infection, rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, transplantation rejection, meningitis, myocardial infarction, septicemia, osteomyelitis and others. CRP is also highly correlated to Serum Amyloid A levels.

ARL15 is a member of the ARF family which are essential in eukaryotic vesicular trafficking pathways and have a vital part in the activation of phospholipase D. ARL15 variants influence levels of Acrp30, an adipocyte-derived protein that is extremely genetic and inversely related to the prospect of type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease.

Midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid responsive gene, MK, and is a member of a family of heparin binding factors. It contains 121 amino acid residues including 10 conserved cysteine residues, all of which appear to be disulphide linked.
Midkine is expressed during embryogenesis, showing an expression pattern that suggests functions in neurogenesis, cell migration, secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm-epithelial interaction.
The widespread downregulation of MK in the adult human is reverted in a number of cancers, in which polypeptides are able to act as both transforming growth factors and promoters of angiogenesis.
Midkine (MK), induces chemotaxis of human neutrophils and was found to trigger mobilization of intracellular calcium of these cells.
Midkine induces histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells with a rapid response in a dose dependent manner.
Midkine is also a potent stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is a part of the human carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) family. CEACAM6 belongs to the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked immunoglobulin superfamily which is involved in various human cancers. CEACAM6 is linked to the progression of pancreatic cancer.

Shiga-like toxin (verotoxin) is a toxin produced by some strains of Escherichia coli. Shiga-like toxin is named for its similarity to the AB5-type Shiga toxin produced by the bacteria Shigella dysenteriae. There are two known types-SLT1 and SLT2. The Shiga-like toxin is linked with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Shiga-like toxin requires highly specific receptors on the cells'' surface in order to attach and enter the cell. Species such as cattle, swine, and deer which do not carry these receptors may harbor toxigenic bacteria without any ill effect, dropping them in their feces, from where they may be distributed to humans. Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B has nontoxic action, it is the functional region which binds to the receptor. The Shiga Like Toxin-1 Subunit B can be useful in vaccine study, antibody test and other functional research.

Sprouty-Related EVH1 Domain Containing 1, also known as SPRED1, is a part of the Sprouty family of proteins and is phosphorylated by tyrosine kinase. SPRED1 inhibits growth-factor-mediated activation of MAP kinase. SPRED1 plays a role as a homodimer or as a heterodimer with SPRED2 to regulate activation of the MAP kinase cascade. SPRED1 is a negative regulator of hematopoiesis of bone marrow.

Interleukin-22 (IL-22), also known as IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor (IL-TIF) was initially identified as a gene induced by IL-9 in mouse T cells and mast cells. Mouse IL-22 cDNA encodes a 179 amino acid residue protein with a putative 33 amino acids signal peptide that is cleaved to generate a 147 aa mature protein that shares approximately 79% and 22% aa sequence identity with human IL-22 and IL-10, respectively. IL-22 has been shown to activate STAT-1 and STAT-3 in several hepatoma cell lines and upregulate the production of acute phase proteins. IL-22 is produced by normal mouse T cells upon Con A activation. Mouse IL-22 expression is also induced in various organs upon lipopolysaccharide injection, suggesting that IL-22 may be involved in inflammatory responses. The functional IL-22 receptor complex consists of two receptor subunits, IL-22R (previously an orphan receptor named CRF2-9) and IL-10R? (previously known as CRF2-4), belonging to the class II cytokine receptor family.

RAB5A is a member of RAS oncogene family. The small GTPase, RAB5A is a crucial regulatory component of the endocytic pathway. Activation of RAB5A is mediated by GDP-GTP exchange factors (GEFs) that generate the Rab5-GTP complex). RAB5A is required for the fusion of plasma membranes and early endosomes.

SMNDC1 is a vital splicing factor obligatory for spliceosome assembly which is a part of the SMN family. SMNDC1 has one Tudor domain with significant similarity to Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) and is expressed in heart, pancreas and skeletal muscle, localizing to Cajal bodies and nuclear speckles. Mutations in SMNDC1 are cause of autosomal recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy.

TNFR2 belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFR2 is receptor with high affinity for TNFSF2/TNF-alpha and approximately 5-fold lower affinity for homotrimeric TNFSF1/lymphotoxin-alpha. TNFR2 mediates the majority of the metabolic effects of TNF-alpha. In addition, knockout studies in mice propose a role for TNFR2 in protecting neurons from apoptosis by stimulating antioxidative pathways. TNFR2 expression might have a significant role in the angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and metastasis of Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast.
There are 2 types of soluble TNF receptors: sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II, which act to neutralize the biological activities of TNF alpha and TNF beta. The levels of these soluble receptors seem to increase as a result of shedding of the extracellular domains of the membrane bound receptors. High levels of soluble TNF receptors are found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. TNFR2 and TNFR1 form a heterocomplex which mediates the recruitment of 2 anti-apoptotic proteins, c-IAP1 and c-IAP2, which possess E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. IAPs’ function in TNF-receptor signaling is unknown; nevertheless, c-IAP1 is believed to potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis by the ubiquitination and degradation of TNF-receptor-associated factor 2, which mediates anti-apoptotic signals. Oxidative stress promotes TNFR1 and TNFR2 self-interaction, ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling. TNF-a, TNFR1 and TNFR2 have roles in cellular differentiation. TNFR1 and TNFR2 function in cell type-specific renal injury.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 21 or TNFRSF21, is a protein that located in the cell membrane from the TNF receptor superfamily. By activating the NF-kappaB pathway, TNFRSF21 promotes cell apoptosis. The degeneration of cells caused by activating caspase 3 and caspase 6, the TNFRSF21 binds to the N-terminal APP in neuronal cell bodies and axons which leads to apoptosis. TNFRSF21 takes part in signaling cascades activated by stimulation of T-cell receptor.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (TNFRSF8) is a receptor for TNFSF8/CD30L. TNFRSF8 has a role in the regulation of cellular growth and transformation of activated lymphoblasts. In addition, the TNFRSF8 protein regulates gene expression via activation of NF-kappa-B. TNFRSF8 being a regulator of apoptosis, induces cell death or proliferation, depending on the cell type.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein present in fetal digestive-tract tissues; it’s involved in cell adhesion. The production of CEA stops before birth. CEA is called tumor marker since its elevated levels are found in the serum from individuals with colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, lung and breast carcinomas and in heavy smokers.
There are also benign conditions that elevate CEA levels such as smoking, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors (in the equivalent organs which have cancers with elevated CEA). Typically, higher levels of CEA are found in men, smokers, and older individuals.
The presence of CEA assists in screening, in evaluating recurrent or disseminated disease, and in determining the success of surgical removal of malignant tumors.
CEA levels can be used as indicators of treatment success. The normal values range from 0.0 to 2.5 ng/ml of serum (from blood), in non-smokers, a greater amount than that may be suggestive of cancer. Levels above 20 ng/ml before treatment are associated with cancer which has already metastasized. Benign conditions do not usually cause a CEA increase over 10 ng/ml.
The high levels of CEA should return to normal after successful therapy, however if during follow up there’s an elevation in CEA levels it indicates a recurrence of tumor.
Carcinoembryonic antigen family belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily; it consists of 29 genes, 18 of which are normally expressed.

Carboxypeptidase A4 (CPA4) belongs to the carboxypeptidase A/B subfamily, and it is located in a cluster with 3 other family members on chromosome 7. CPA4 is a secreted, zinc-dependent metallocarboxypeptidase, which removes the C-terminal amino acid from peptides having a free C-terminal carboxyl group. CPA4 is a metalloprotease which may be involved in the histone hyperacetylation pathway. CPA4 are synthesized as zymogens which are activated by proteolytic cleavage.