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FLT3 ligand is a receptor for the fl cytokine has a tyrosine-protein kinase activity & a growth factor that regulates proliferation of early hematopoietic cells. Flt3-Ligand synergizes with other CSFs and interleukins to induce growth and differentiation.

Eotaxin-2, also called MPIF2 & Ckb6, is a novel CC chemokine produced by activated monocytes and T lymphocytes. Eotaxin-2 selectively chemoattracts cells expressing CCR3 including eosinophils, basophils, Th2 T cells, mast cells, and certain subsets of dendritic cells. Furthermore, Eotaxin-2 inhibits the proliferation of multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells. The mature protein, which includes C-terminal truncation, contains 78 amino acids (92 amino acids for the mouse homolog, without C-terminal truncation).
CCL24 functions as a chemotactic chemokine for resting t-lymphocytes, and eosinophils. CCL24 has lower chemotactic activity for neutrophils but none for monocytes and activated lymphocytes. CCL24 is a strong suppressor of colony formation by a multipotential hematopoietic progenitor cell line and binds to CCR3.

Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted or RANTES is an 8 kDa protein classified as a chemotactic cytokine or chemokine. It has recently been renamed CCL5. RANTES is chemotactic for T cells, eosinophils and basophils and plays an active role in recruiting leukocytes into inflammatory sites. With the help of particular cytokines (i.e. IL-2 and IFN-?) that are released by T cells, RANTES also induces the proliferation and activation of certain natural killer (NK) cells to form CHAK (CC-Chemokine-activated killer) cells. It is also a HIV-suppressive factor released from CD8+ T cells. This chemokine has been localized to chromosome 17 in humans.

Vascular endothelial growth factoris an important signaling proteininvolved in both vasculogenesisand angiogenesis. As its name implies, VEGF activity has been mostly studied on cells of the vascular endothelium, although it does have effects on a number of other cell types (e.g. stimulation monocyte/macrophagemigration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ).VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial cell growth, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesisand cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor.
Elevated levels of this protein is linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

The recombinant Protein A/G/L is a genetically engineered protein which combines the IgG binding profiles of all Protein A, Protein G and Protein L. Protein A/G/L is a gene fusion product. Recombinant fusion protein A/G/L is comprised of 5 Ig-binding regions of protein L (B1-B2-B3-B4-B5), 5 IgG binding domains from Protein A (E-D-A-B-C) and 2 Ig-binding region of protein G (C1-C3). The recombinant Protein A/G/L is ideal for purification of monoclonal or polyclonal IgG antibodies. Protein A/G/L binds to IgG from humans, mice, rats, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, dogs and cats.

Recombinant Hirudin is a potent thrombin inhibitor originally derived from the medicinal leech. Hirudin acts directly on thrombin rather than through other clotting factors. The mechanism of Hirudin-thrombin appears to be unique. The conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin by the serine protease enzyme thrombin is a major event in the final stages of blood coagulation. In the final stages of coagulation prothrombinase converts prothrombin into thrombin. Fibrin is subsequently cross linked by factor XIII to form a blood clot. The primary inhibitor of thrombin in normal blood circulation is antithrombin III. The anticoagulatant activity of hirudin is derived from its ability to inhibit the pro-coagulant activity of thrombin (similar to antithrombin III activity). Hirudin is the strongest natural inhibitor of thrombin. Hirudin binds to and inhibits only the activity of thrombin forms with a specific activity on fibrinogen contrasting to antithrombin III activity. Therefore, hirudin has a thrombolytic activity since it prevents or dissolves the formation of clots and thrombi. Hirudin also has therapeutic significance in blood coagulation disorders, in the treatment of skin hematomas and of superficial varicose veins. Hirudin does not hinder with the biological activity of other serum proteins and can also act on complexed thrombin, thus having an advantage over more common anticoagulants and thrombolytics. It is complicated to extract large quantities of hirudin from natural sources; therefore a method for producing and purifying hirudin using recombinant biotechnology has been developed.

Transferrin is the iron-transport protein of vertebrate serum and donates iron to cells through interaction with a specific membrane receptor, CD71. Transferrin appears to be indispensable for most cells growing in tissue culture.
It is referred to frequently as a growth factor because, in analogy to other growth factor-receptor interactions, proliferating cells express high numbers of transferrin receptors, and the binding of transferrin to their receptors is needed for cells to initiate and maintain their DNA synthesis. Apart from its role as an iron transport protein transferrin acts as a cytokine and has functions that may not be related to its iron-carrying capacity.

Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration. It increases cell permeability to monosaccharides, amino acids and fatty acids. It accelerates glycolysis, the pentose phosphate cycle, and glycogen synthesis in liver.

Ataxin 3 is otherwise known as Machado-Joseph disease protein 1. Machado–Joseph disease is a hereditary autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. ATXN3 contains trinucleotide CAG repeats in the coding region, and the expansion of these repeats from the normal 13-36 to 68-79 causes the Machado-Joseph disease. ATXN3 is a poly-ubiquitin-binding protein whose cellular turnover is regulated by its catalytic activity.
In addition, ATXN3 is a proteasome-associated factor which mediates the degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. ATXN3 folds reversibly using a single intermediate; partial destabilization of ATXN3 by chemical denaturation causes the formation of fibrillar aggregates by the non-pathological variant.
Ataxin-3 interacts with the major histone acetyltransferases cAMP-response-element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein, p300, and p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor and hinders transcription by these coactivators.

Killer Cell Lectin-like Receptor Subfamily G, Member 1 (KLRG1) is a member of the killer cell lectin-like receptor (KLR) family, which is a group of transmembrane proteins preferentially expressed in NK cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes which mediate lysis of certain tumor cells and virus-infected cells without previous activation. NK cells can also regulate specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The cell surface expression of KLRG1 is up-regulated by MHC class I molecules expression.

Resistin, a product of the RSTN gene, is a peptide hormone belonging to the class of cysteine-rich secreted proteins (monomeric peptide contains 11 cysteine residues) referred to as the RELM family, and is also described as ADSF (Adipose Tissue-Specific Secretory Factor) or FIZZ3 (Found in Inflammatory Zone 3). Mouse resistin is expressed as a 114 amino acid prepeptide; its hydrofobic Nterminal 20 amino acid signal peptide is cleaved before its secretion. Mouse resistin circulates in blood as a homodimeric protein consisting of two 94 amino acid polypeptides, which are disulfide-linked via Cys26.
Resistin may be an important link between obesity. Mouse resistin, specifically produced and secreted by adipocyte, acts on skeletal muscle myocytes, hepatocytes and adipocytes themselves so that it reduces their sensitivity. Steppan et al. have suggested that resistin suppressed the ability to stimulate glucose uptake. They have also suggested that resistin was present at elevated levels in blood of obese mice, and was down regulated by fasting and by antidiabetic drugs. Way et al., on the other hand, have found that resistin expression is severely suppressed in obesity.
Other studies have shown that mouse resistin increases during the differentiation of adipocytes, but it also seems to inhibit adipogenesis. In contrast, the human adipogenic differentiation is likely to be associated with a down regulation of resistin gene expression.

Adiponectin is a recently discovered 244 amino acid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (Adipokine). The protein belongs to 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.

Adiponectin is a hormone exclusively expressed from adipose tissue.
Many studies demonstrate that Adiponectin has direct anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory functions. APM-1 can increase insulin sensitivity of skeletal muscle. Attenuate hepatic lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis, regulate NO production in endothelial cells, inhibit proliferation of smooth muscle cells and prevent lipid accumulation of macrophage cells.
In the circulation, Adiponectin is present as three different oligomeric complexes, including the high molecular weight (HMW), the middle molecular weight (MMW, also called hexamer) and low molecular weigh (MMW, also called trimer) forms 8. Different oligomeric complex of Adiponectin activates different signaling pathways and exerts distinct functions.

Myelin Protein Zero-Like 1 (MPZL1) is a cell surface receptor, which is involved in signal transduction processes. MPZL1 recruits PTPN11/SHP-2 to the cell membrane and is a putative substrate of PTPN11/SHP-2. MPZL1 is a main receptor for concanavalin-A (ConA) and it is involved in cellular signaling induced by ConA, which most likely includes Src family tyrosine-protein kinases. MPZL1 Isoform 3 appears to have a dominant negative role by blocking tyrosine phosphorylation of MPZL1 induced by ConA. Isoform 1, but not isoform 2 and isoform 3, might be involved in regulation of integrin-mediated cell motility.

Plasma protease C1 inhibitor (SERPING1) is a part of the serpin superfamily of serine protease inhibitors. SERPING1 takes part in regulating activation of both the complement and contact systems. That isdue to the fact that SERPING1 regulates the activation of complement factor C1 in addition to the activity of activated C1 by coupling with the active catalytic site at the light chains of C1r and C1s. Lack of SERPING1 results in hereditary angioedema, which is characterized by recurrent episodes of localized angioedema of the skin, gastrointestinal mucosa or upper respiratory mucosa.

ARG2 participates in the regulation of extra-urea cycle arginine metabolism and also in down-regulation of nitric oxide synthesis. Extrahepatic arginase functions to regulate L-arginine bioavailability to NO synthase. Since NO synthase is found in the penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle, the clitoral corpus cavernosum and the vagina, ARG2 takes part in both male and female sexual arousal and therefore a potential target for the treatment of male and female sexual arousal disorders.

ECSIT homolog (ECSIT) is a ubiquitously expressed protein which has a vital role as an adaptor protein in the cytosolic signal transduction cascade events triggered by Toll receptor activation. ECSIT promotes proteolytic activation of MAP3K1. ECSIT is also involved in the BMP signaling pathway. ECSIT is essential for normal embryonic development. ECSIT was originally classified as a cytoplasmic protein interacting specifically with TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF)-6 in the TLR pathway. ECSIT gene knockdown results in gravely impaired complex I assembly and disrupted mitochondrial function.

ATG5 is a member of the autophagy-related (ATG) genes family. Autophagy is a catabolic process for the autophagosomic-lysosomal degradation of bulk cytoplasmic contents. ATG5 protein is essential for autophagy. It conjugates to ATG12 and associates with isolation membrane to form autophagosomes. In addition ATG5 takes a vital part in the apoptotic process and it is expressed relatively late in the apoptotic process, downstream of caspase activity.

Oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMG) is a cell membrane protein which contains 8 leucine-rich repeats. The OMG protein is expressed on the surface of oligodendrocytes and on large projection neurons, including Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, motoneurons of the brainstem and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The neurite outgrowth inhibitory activities of all three myelin-derived proteins are mediated by binding to a joint receptor complex consisting of the Nogo receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor.

Wheat Gliadin and related gluten components from barley, rye and possibly oats can cause an abnormal immune response called Celiac disease which is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. Celiac disease characteristics are flattening of the jejunal mucosa and intestinal lesions of variable severity in hereditarily inclined individuals. Even though Celiac disease is not a classic autoimmune disease it is related to anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies and gliadin antibodies tests are most recommended in screening populations at risk for CD and other gluten-sensitive enteropathies. In the past, serologic tests for gliadin antibodies usually were not very precise and were not enough for accurate diagnosis due to missing deamidated epitopes within the authentic gliadin fraction traditionally used in diagnostic test kits. ProSpec's deamidated Gliadin isoform matches to the deamidated neo-epitopes, which in the natural antigen are formed by transglutaminase-mediated glutamine side chain deamidation.

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

IGF-2 is a member of the insulin family of polypeptide growth factors that is involved in development and growth. It is an imprinted gene and is expressed only from the paternally inherited allele. It is a candidate gene for eating disorders. There is a read-through, INS-IGF2, which aligns to this gene at the 3' region and to the upstream INS gene at the 5' region. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene.

Chromgranin-A is part of the neuroendocrine secretory protein family. CHGA is located in secretory vesicles of neurons and endocrine cells. Chromgranin-A is a precursor to three biologically active peptides; vasostatin, pancreastatin, and parastatin. These peptides act as autocrine or paracrine negative modulators of the neuroendocrine system. Other peptides, including chromostatin, beta-granin, WE-14 and GE-25, are also derived from the full-length protein. Chromgranin-A has numerous biological activities on some tissues and organs and exerts a large spectrum of homeostatic actions, including antifungal and antimicrobial effect, modulation of cell adhesion, and inhibition of parathyroid hormone secretion.

MAK16 is a member of the MAK16 family.