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Neuronal Regeneration Related Protein (NREP) has roles in neural function. NREP promotes axonal regeneration. In addition, NREP has functions in cellular differentiation. NREP protein induces differentiation of fibroblast into myofibroblast and increases retinoic-acid regulation of lipid-droplet biogenesis. NREP down-regulates the expression of TGFB1 and TGFB2 but not of TGFB3. NREP has a role in the regulation of alveolar generation.

Dendritic cell and monocyte chemokinelike protein (DMC/CXCL17/VEGF-correlated chemokine 1/VCC1), is a secreted molecule with a size and predicted 3-dimensional folding pattern similar to that of chemokines CXCL8/IL8 and CXCL14/BRAK. CXCL17 is constitutively generated by airway and intestinal epithelium. CXCL17 induces the chemotaxis of quiescent, but not LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes and dendritic cells, and it also binds these cells specifically. The expression of CXCL17 is increased in endothelial cells when they are induced to form tubes in vitro. CXCL17, CXCL1/GRO and CXCL8/IL8 which have roles in angiogenesis, show significantly correlated expression with that of VEGF in primary lung, breast and esophageal tumors. Therefore, CXCL17 is suggested to have a role in tumor angiogenesis. The mature Rat CXCL17 shares 82%, 71% amino acid sequence identity with mouse, human CXCL17, respectively.

RAET1L plays a role as a stress-induced ligand for NKG2D receptor. Retinoic Acid Early Transcript 1L (RAET1L) is linked to the cell membrane by the GPI anchor. HCMV infection triggers RAET1L’sexpression but HCMV alters its function. HCMV-encoded UL16 glycoprotein retains RAET1L/ULBP6 inside the cells, preventing it from reaching the cell surface and being exposed to cells of the immune system. RAET1L has a more restricted expression profile in cell lines and primary human tissues than other NKG2D ligands.

General Transcription Factor IIH Polypeptide 5 (GTF2H5) is a subunit of transcription/repair factor TFIIH, which serves in gene transcription and DNA repair. GTF2H5 protein stimulates ERCC3/XPB ATPase activity which triggers DNA opening during DNA repair, and is involved in the regulation of cellular levels of TFIIH. GTF2H5 gene mutations result in trichothiodystrophy, complementation group A.

Activins are homodimers or heterodimers of the different β subunit isoforms, part of the TGFβ family. Mature Activin A has two 116 amino acids residues βA subunits (βA-βA). Activin displays an extensive variety of biological activities, including mesoderm induction, neural cell differentiation, bone remodelling, haematopoiesis, and reproductive physiology. Activins takes part in the production and regulation of hormones such as FSH, LH, GnRH and ACTH. Cells that are identified to express Activin A include fibroblasts, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages, keratinocytes, osteoclasts, bone marrow monocytes, prostatic epithelium, neurons, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and ovarian granulosa cells.

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.

IL4 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by activated T cells. IL4 is a ligand for interleukin 4 receptor. The interleukin 4 receptor also binds to IL13, which may contribute to many overlapping functions of this cytokine and IL13. STAT6, a signal transducer and activator of transcription, has been shown to play a central role in mediating the immune regulatory signal of this cytokine. This gene, IL3, IL5, IL13, and CSF2 form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q, with this gene particularly close to IL13. IL4, IL13 and IL5 are found to be regulated coordinately by several long-range regulatory elements in an over 120 kilobase range on the chromosome. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

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).

RGS2 belongs to the RGS family which are regulatory molecules that act as GTPase activating proteins for G alpha subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins. RGS2 inhibits signal transduction by increasing the GTPase activity of G protein alpha subunits and as a result driving them into their inactive GDP-bound form.

EMG1 is a 244 aa protein which has a role in ribosome biogenesis. EMG1 is a key protein in the small ribosomal subunit assembly, controls methylation during ribosome synthesis and takes part in pre-18S rRNA processing. EMG1 is localized to the nucleolus and a mutation in this gene is linked with Bowen-Conradi syndrome.

A natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) NKp46 has been shown to represent a novel NK cell-specific molecule involved in human NK cell activation. The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are a recently characterized family of Ig-like activation receptors that appear to be major triggering receptors in tumor cell recognition. The three known NCRs include NKp46 and NKp30, which are expressed on circulating NKcells, and NKp44, which is expressed only on activating NK cells. NKp46 has been implicated in NK cell-mediated lysis of several autologous tumor cells, pathogen-infected cell lines and mononuclear phagocytes infected with an intracellular bacterium. The Lysis of tumor cells by NK-cells involves recognition by NKp46 of heparan sulfate moieties of membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Furthermore, NKp46 is a surface receptor involved in NK-cell cell death by apoptosis. NKp46 has two extracellular Ig-like domains followed by a ~40 residue stalk region, a type I transmembrane domain, and a short cytoplasmic tail. The extracellular Ig-like domain of NKp46 (22-255aa) is purified by FPLC gel-filtration chromatography, after refolding of the isolated inclusion bodies in a redox buffer. In addition, engagement of the antigen with the monoclonal antibody stimulates intracellular calcium levels and the synthesis of cytokines. CD59 is an NKp46 coreceptor (by physical association) together they activate cytotoxicity of human NK-cells, their engagement results in tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3-zeta chains associated with NKp46. Reduced cell surface expression of NKp46 and other NK-cell receptors is linked to the impaired NK-cell cytolytic function in viremic HIV-1 infection.

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.

Basic 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 heparin-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.

WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 (WFDC2) is a protease inhibitor, which belongs to the WFDC domain family. WFDC2 is effective with a broad range of proteases, e.g. aspartic, serine or thiol proteases. WFDC2 is expressed in several normal tissues, including the male reproductive system, regions of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx. WFDC2 may be involved in sperm maturation. WFDC2 is also highly expressed in a number of tumors cells lines, such ovarian, colon, breast, lung and renal cells lines.

Fibronectin Leucine Rich Transmembrane Protein 3, also known as FLRT3 is a member of the fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein (FLRT) family. FLRT3 contains one fibronectin type-III domain as well as 10 LRR (leucine-rich) repeats and is expressed in the kidney, brain, pancreas, skeletal muscle, lung, liver, placenta, and heart. In addition, the members of the FLRT family play a role in cell adhesion as well as receptor signaling. FLRT3 has been implicated in neurite outgrowth after nerve damage, as a positive regulator of FGF signalling and in homotypic cell adhesion. Furthermore, FLRT3 has an essential function in regulating cellular adhesion among the epithelial apical ridge and the underlying mesenchyme and also in the establishment of the dorso-ventral position of the ridge.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 F (UBE2F) is a member of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family and UBE2F subfamily. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes or sometimes as ubiquitin-carrier enzymes, run the second step in the ubiquitination reaction which targets a protein for degradation using the proteasome. The UBE2F receives the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 from the UBA3-NAE1 E1 complex and catalyzes its covalent attachment to other proteins.
RBX2-UBE2F complex neddylates specific target proteins, for example CUL5 as can be seen from the specific interaction with the E3 ubiquitin ligase RBX2, but not RBX1.

Growth Differentiation Factor-7 (GDF-7) belongs to the BMP family of TGF-b superfamily proteins. GDF7 elicits its bioactivity via a heterodimeric receptor complex comprised of a type 1 (BMPR-IB) and a type II (BMPR-II or Activin RII) serine/threonine kinase receptor. GDF7 signaling results in the phosphorylation and activation of Smad proteins. GDF-7 is also involved in tendon and ligament formation and repair. In addition, GDF7 regulates bone formation, mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, neuronal differentiation, and axon guidance.

Peroxisomal Biogenesis Factor 26 (PEX26) which is a part of the peroxin-26 gene family is probably required for protein import into peroxisomes. PEX26 attaches PEX1 and PEX6 to peroxisome membranes to form heteromeric AAA ATPase complexes needed for the import of proteins into peroxisomes. Deficiencies in this gene are the cause of peroxisome biogenesis disorder complementation group 8. PBD is a group of peroxisomal disorders evolving from a failure of protein import into the peroxisomal membrane or matrix.

ICAM-1 also called CD54 is a single chain membrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of a variety of non-haematopoietic and haematopoietic cell types and has roles in signal transduction, cell signaling and lymphocyte adhesion. ICAM1 binds to integrins such as CD11a / CD18, or CD11b / CD18. ICAM1 is also used by Rhinovirus as a receptor. ICAM-1 is an intercellular adhesion molecule constantly present in low concentrations in the membranes of leukocytes and endothelial cells. When stimulated by cytokine the concentrations significantly increase. ICAM-1 can be stimulated by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) and is expressed by the vascular endothelium, macrophages and lymphocytes. ICAM-1 is a ligand for LFA-1 which is a receptor found on leukocytes. Upon activation, leukocytes bind to endothelial cells via ICAM-1/LFA-1 and then transmigrate into tissues. ICAM-1 is implicated in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Levels of ICAM-1 are shown to be notably elevated in patients with SAH. Soluble ICAM-1 is detectable in the plasma and is elevated in patients with various inflammatory conditions.

Syndecan-4 is a type I integral membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), which was originally isolated from cloned rat microvascular endothelial cells as an antithrombin-binding molecule, and is now known to be a member of the syndecan family. Syndecan-4 binds to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), midkine, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor via its heparan sulfate chains, and is thought to be involved in various biologic functions such as signaling of bFGF, anticoagulation, and focal adhesion formation. A previous study demonstrated that syndecan-4 is expressed in various tissues, and its level of expression in the kidney is stronger than those of other syndecan family members. Thus, syndecan-4 is thought to play certain roles in maintaining renal function. Moreover, it has been reported that proteoglycans, especially sulfated proteoglycans, are involved in organogenesis of the kidney.

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.