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AFP is normally synthesized in the liver, intestinal tract, and yolk sac of the fetus. Antibody to AFP has been shown to be useful in detecting hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and germ cell neoplasms, especially yolk sac tumors.

EPH Receptor A2 (EPHA2) is a member of the ephrin receptor subfamily of the protein-tyrosine kinase family. EPHA2 is a protein which binds ephrin-A ligands. EPH and EPH-related receptors are associated with mediating developmental events, particularly in the nervous system. Receptors in the EPH subfamily normally have a single kinase domain and an extracellular region containing a Cys-rich domain and 2 fibronectin type III repeats. The ephrin receptors are divided into two groups based on the similarity of their extracellular domain sequences and their affinities for binding ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands. EPHA2 gene mutations are the cause of certain genetically-related cataract disorders.

EPO is a member of the EPO/TPO family and encodes a secreted, glycosylated cytokine composed of 4 alpha helical bundles. EPO is found in the plasma and regulates red cell production by promoting erythroid differentiation and initiating hemoglobin synthesis. EPO also has neuroprotective activity against a variety of potential brain injuries and antiapoptotic functions in several tissue types.

PCNA is located in the nucleus and is a cofactor of DNA polymerase delta. PCNA acts as a homotrimer and helps elevate the processivity of leading strand synthesis during DNA replication. In reaction to DNA damage, PCNA is ubiquitinated and takes part in the RAD6-dependent DNA repair pathway. 2 transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for PCNA gene. Pseudogenes of this PCNA gene have been described on chromosome 4 and on the X chromosome. PCNA is expressed during late G1- phase, S-phase of mitosis and persists until the end of the M-phase because of its long biological half-life. PCNA is induced by UV irradiation.

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1) is a 201 amino acid member of the interleukin-6 superfamily. It was identified by its ability to induce hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. CT-1 mRNA levels were found both in cardiac myocytes and in cardiac nonmyocytes. CT 1 was also detected in abundance in normal adult human lung and was expressed in both fetal and adult airway smooth muscle cells. CT 1 activates gp130 dependent signaling and stimulates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway to transduce hypertrophic and cytoprotective signals in cardiac myocytes.
CT 1 has also a neurotrophic function. CTF1 deficiency causes increased motoneuron cell death in spinal cord and brainstem nuclei of mice during a period between embryonic day 14 and the first postnatal week. Moreover, CT-1 is a hepatocyte survival factor that efficiently reduces hepatocellular damage in animal models of acute liver injury. Cardiotrophin 1 expression is augmented after hypoxic stimulation and it can protect cardiac cells when added either prior to simulated ischaemia or at the time of reoxygenation following simulated ischaemia. Cardiotrophin 1 can induce expression of the protective heat shock proteins (hsps) in cardiac cells.
Cardiotrophin-1 increased ventricular expression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and angiotensinogen mRNA.
Cardiophin 1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure, patients with dilatative cardiomyopathy, moderate/severe mitral regurgitation, stable and unstable angina and after acute myocardial infarction.

Aspartoacylase 3 (ACY3) belongs to the Aspartoacylase subfamily. ACY3 has a vital role in deacetylating mercapturic acids in kidney proximal tubules. Aspartoacylase 3 localizes to the cytoplasm of S2 and S3 proximal tubules and also to the apical domain of S1 proximal tubules. In addition, ACY3 protein is expressed at low levels in the stomach, testis, heart, brain, lung and liver, and can function as an HCV (Hepatitis C virus) core binding protein.

ECHS1 is part of the hydratase/isomerase superfamily. ECHS1 is localized in the mitochondrial matrix and Expressed in muscle, liver and fibroblasts, with low expression in kidney and spleen, ECHS1 exists as a homohexamer that takes part in the second phase of the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation pathway.

CD38 is a surface molecule which acts as a plasma membrane signaling receptor in leukocytes. Furthermore, CD38 functions as signaling channel which leads to to cellular activation and proliferation. CD38 also plays a role as an ectoenzyme with various functions as well as an inducer of Ca2+ mobilization from cytoplasmic stores. CD38 signals acts as a coreceptor on B cells and modulates B cell receptor.

Carbohydrate Sulfotransferase 5 (CHST5) is a Golgi-embedded enzyme that is found in B cells, T cells and intestinal epithelium and is also mediates sulfation of keratan in cornea. CHST5 is a sulfotransferase that utilizes 3'-phospho-5'-adenylyl sulfate (PAPS) as sulfonate donor to catalyze the transfer of sulfate to position 6 of non-reducing N-acetylglucosamine residues of keratan. CHST5 works on the non-reducing terminal GlcNAc of short andlong carbohydrate substrates that have poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures.

LYVE-1 has been identified as a major receptor for HA (extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan) on the lymph vessel wall. The deduced amino acid sequence of LYVE-1 predicts a 322-residue type I integral membrane polypeptide 41% similar to the CD44 HA receptor with a 212-residue extracellular domain containing a single Link module the prototypic HA binding domain of the Link protein superfamily. Like CD44, the LYVE-1 molecule binds both soluble and immobilized HA. However, unlike CD44, the LYVE-1 molecule colocalizes with HA on the luminal face of the lymph vessel wall and is completely absent from blood vessels. Hence, LYVE-1 is the first lymph-specific HA receptor to be characterized and is a uniquely powerful marker for lymph vessels themselves.

Mouse MIP-1 gamma is 75% identical in its amino acid compostion as compared to the rat specie. MIP-1 gamma is a CC chemokine localized in murine blood and a widespread range of murine tissues, without having an identified human homolog. MIP-1 gamma signals through the CCR1 receptor. MIP-1 gamma chemoattracts neutrophils and also inhibits colony formation of bone marrow myeloid immature progenitors. MIP-1 gamma has six cysteines including the four highly conserved cysteine residues present in CC chemokines.

EBI3 has an induced expression in B lymphocytes in reaction to Epstein-Barr virus infection. EBI3 encodes a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the hematopoietin receptor family, and heterodimerizes with a 28 kDa protein to form iIL-27. EBI3 drives rapid clonal expansion of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 strongly synergizes with IL-12 to activate IFN-gamma production of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 mediates its biologic effects through the cytokine receptor wsx-1/tccr.

CD163 is an acute phase-regulated receptor which participates in the removal and endocytosis of hemoglobin/haptoglobin complexes by macrophages and thus keeps tissues from free hemoglobin-mediated oxidative damage. Furthermore, CD163 partakes in the uptake and recycling of iron, through endocytosis of hemoglobin/haptoglobin and ensuing breakdown of heme. In addition, CD163 binds hemoglobin/haptoglobin complexes in a calcium-dependent and pH-dependent way. CD163 demonstrates greater affinity for complexes of hemoglobin and multimeric haptoglobin of HP-1F phenotype than for complexes of hemoglobin and dimeric haptoglobin of HP-1S phenotype. Moreover, CD163 stimulates a cascade of intracellular signals which involves tyrosine kinase-dependent calcium recruitment, inositol triphosphate formation and secretion of IL-6 & CSF-1.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, insulin resistance, and cancer.

CD3-gamma polypeptide is encoded by CD3 Gamma (CD3G) which together with CD3-epsilon, -delta and -zeta, and the T-cell receptor alpha/beta and gamma/delta heterodimers, configures the T-cell receptor-CD3 complex. The T-cell receptor-CD3 complex takes part in coupling antigen recognition to numerous intracellular signal-transduction pathways. The genes encoding the epsilon, gamma and delta polypeptides are located in the same cluster on chromosome 11. Deficiencies in this gene are associated with T cell immunodeficiency.

Thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (glpE) is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme which is encoded by the nucleus. Escherichia coli glpE is a prototype for the single-domain rhodanese superfamily. glpE catalyzes the sulfur-transfer reaction in which a sulfur atom is transferred from thiosulfate to cyanide by a double-displacement mechanism.

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 acidsand 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.

Glycoprotein hormones are heterodimers consisting of a common alpha subunit and a unique beta subunit which confers biological specificity. CGB is a member of the glycoprotein hormone beta chain family and is the beta 3 subunit of (CG). CG is produced by the trophoblastic cells of the placenta and stimulates the ovaries. The beta subunit of CG is encoded by 6 genes which are arranged in tandem and inverted pairs on chromosome 19q13.3 and contiguous with the luteinizing hormone beta subunit gene.

The homeobox protein family of transcription factors has many members that take part in developmental processes such as HHEX. HHEX is known to interact with Promyelocytic leukemia protein and expression in specific hematopoietic lines indicates that this protein is involved in hematopoietic differentiation.

AHCY is an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydrolysis of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) to adenosine (Ado) and L-homocysteine (Hcy). AHCY controls the intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentration that is crucial for transmethylation reactions. AHCY deficiency causes hypermethioninemia.

Uteroglobin (SCGB1A1) which belongs to the Secretoglobin (SCGBs) superfamily, is a multifunctional protein that exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effects by binding small hydrophobic molecules such as phospholipids and prostaglandins. Uteroglobin is involved in numerous functions including anti-inflammation, inhibition of phospholipase A2 and the sequestering of hydrophobic ligands. SCGB1A1 is expressed by Clara cells, the non-ciliated, non-mucous secretory cells predominant in lung bronchioles, and by other epithelia which communicate with the external environment. On top of sequestering pro-inflammatory mediators and carcinogens, Uteroglobin is implicated in the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, platelet aggregation, and T cell differentiation. SCGB1A1 gene defects are associated with a susceptibility to asthma.

Troponin Complex is a heteromeric protein playing an important role in the regulation of skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction. It consists of three subunits, Troponin I, Troponin T and TroponinC. Each subunit is responsible for part of Troponin Complex function. E.g. Troponin I inhibits ATP-ase activity of acto-myosin.Troponin T and Troponin Iare presented in cardiac muscles in different forms than in skeletal muscles. Purified subunits of rcTnI, rcTnC and rcTnT are recomplexed in vitro under appropriate conditions.