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FIAF (fasting-induced adipose factor) a.k.a ANGPTL4 or PGAR or HFARP is an adipocytokine up-regulated by fasting, by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, and by hypoxia. ANGPTL4 is found in human and mouse blood plasma both as a native protein and in a truncated form. In human white adipose tissue and SGBS adipocytes, only the native form of ANGPTL4 could be detected, whereas in mice the differentiation of mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes is associated with the production of truncated ANGPTL4. However, the truncated ANGPTL4 is produced by human liver. In human blood plasma FIAF is mainly presented in a truncated form (FIAF-S2), whose levels treatment increases (as shown by experimental data). There is an inter individual variation in ANGPTL4 levels of both the truncated and the native form, however those levels were not influenced by prolonged semistarvation and are not associated with body mass index.

ARF1 is a small guanine nucleotide-binding protein that increases the enzymatic activities of cholera toxin. ARF1 is necessary and ubiquitous in eukaryotes. ARF1 takes part in vesicular transport and functioning via phospholipase D activation. ARF1 is involved in membrane traffic and organelle integrity which are closely tied to their reversible association with membranes and distinct interactions with membrane phospholipids.

Kallikrein-10 (KLK10) is one of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. KLK10 is secreted and has a role in suppression of tumorigenesis in breast and prostate cancers.

SARS Associated Coronavirus Envelope is a small membrane protein that takes major part in the life cycle of the virus. This protein is needed for the assembly, budding, creation of the envelope and pathogenesis. This protein contains 3 outer structural proteins, the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to assure viral entry thetarget cells. Accordingly, S-protein has a major part in virus infection cycle and is the mainly target of neutralizing antibodies.

The fasting-induced adipose factor (FIAF, ANGPTL4, PGAR, HFARP) was identified as an adipocytokine up-regulated by fasting, by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists, and by hypoxia. At the protein level, in human and mouse blood plasma, FIAF was found to be present both as a native protein and in a truncated form. Differentiation of mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes was associated with the production of truncated FIAF, whereas in human white adipose tissue and SGBS adipocytes, only the native FIAF could be detected. Interestingly, the truncated FIAF was produced by human liver.
Experimental data suggest that FIAF is mainly presented in human blood plasma in a truncated form (FIAF-S2), whose level is increased by fenofibrate treatment. Levels of both truncated and native FIAF showed marked inter individual variation but were not associated with body mass index and were not influenced by prolonged semistarvation.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens.
IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions, it is a potent activator of macrophages, and has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.

CD70 also known as TNFSF7 is a cytokine which binds to CD27. TNFSF7 takes part in T-cell activation as well as induces the proliferation of costimulated T-cells. Moreover, TNFSF7 enhances the generation of cytolytic T-cells. Among the diseases which are associated with TNFSF7: Include acute myocarditis & Myocarditis.

Interleukin-3 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T cells.
IL-3 is thought to function via specific cell surface receptors to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and survival of haematopoietic cell lines. IL-3 has also been shown to affect the functional activity of a variety of other cell types including mast cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and basophils.

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.

Human interleukin family 1, member 10 (IL1F10) belongs to the interleukin 1 cytokine family. IL1F10 is expressed in the fetal skin, spleen and tonsil, generally in the basal epithelia of skin and in proliferating B-cells of the tonsil. IL1F10 binds soluble IL1 receptor type 1 and may be implicated in the regulation of adapted and innate immune responses.

IL-31 produced by activated Th2-type T cells, cooperates with a heterodimeric receptor consisting of IL-31 Receptor Anatagonist and Onconstatin-M Receptor that is continuesly expressed on epithelial cells and keratinocytes. IL-31 plays a role in the promotion of allergic skin disorders and in regulating other allergic diseases, such as asthma. IL-31 is involved in the itching sensation and endorses the scratching behavior in NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. IL-31 expression is connectd with CLA(+) T cells and contributes to the development of atopic dermatitis-induced skin inflammation and pruritus. IL-31 is a powerful inducer of proinflammatory mediators in human colonic SEMFs. IL-31 takes part as a proinflammatory cytokine derived from Th2 cells.
Serum IL-31 level is higher in patients with atopic dermatitis. IL-31 is involved in a broad range of immune- & non-immune cells & possesses potential pleiotropic physiological functions, including regulating hematopoiesis & immune re

RNASE2, also known as EDN, is best-known as one of the 4 major proteins found in the large specific granules of human eosinophilic leukocytes. This protein is also expressed constitutively in human liver tissue and its expression can be induced in macrophages by proinflammatory stimuli. RNASE2 is a non-secretory ribonuclease which belongs to the pancreatic ribonuclease family, a subset of the ribonuclease A superfamily. Diseases associated with EDN include Dermatitis, Atopic, 8 and Pulmonary Eosinophilia.

PKLR is a pyruvate kinase which catalyzes the transphosphorylation of phohsphoenolpyruvate into pyruvate and ATP. That is the rate-limiting step of glycolysis. PKLR gene encodes the L- and R-type isoenzymes through alternate splicing events controlled by different promoters. L-type isoform can also appear as a tetramer and is upregulated by glucose with implications in maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

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.

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.

C3b is derived from native C3 upon cleavage with the alternative pathway C3 convertase and release of C3a. C3b is essential to the function of all 3complement pathways. Initiation of each pathway generates proteolytic enzyme complexes (C3 convertases) which binds the target surface. These enzymes cleave a peptide bond in C3 releasing the anaphylatoxin C3a and activating C3b. Most of the C3b created during complement activation. Surface-bound C3b is needed in all 3 pathways for effective activation of C5 and formation of C5b-9 complexes which lyse the target cell membrane. Surface-bound C3b and its breakdown products iC3b and C3d are identifyid by various receptors on lymphoid and phagocytic cells which use the C3b ligand to stimulate antigen presentation to cells of the adaptive immune system. It results in an expansion of target-specific B-cell and T-cell populations.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 appear to package their RNA differently. HIV-1 binds to any appropriate RNA whereas HIV-2 preferentially binds to mRNA which creates the Gag protein itself. This means that HIV-1 is better able to mutate. HIV-2 is transmitted in the same ways as HIV-1: Through exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, semen, tears and vaginal fluids. Immunodeficiency develops more slowly with HIV-2.
HIV-2 is less infectious in the early stages of the virus than with HIV-1.
The infectiousness of HIV-2 increases as the virus progresses.
Major differences include reduced pathogenicity of HIV-2 relative to HIV-1, enhanced immune control of HIV-2 infection and often some degree of CD4-independence. Despite considerable sequence and phenotypic differences between HIV-1 and 2 envelopes, structurally they are quite similar. Both membrane-anchored proteins eventually form the 6-helix bundles from the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the ectodomain, which is common to many viral and cellular fusion proteins and which seems to drive fusion.
HIV-1 gp41 helical regions can form more stable 6-helix bundles than HIV-2 gp41 helical regions however HIV-2 fusion occurs at a lower threshold temperature (25°C), does not require Ca2+ in the medium, is insensitive to treatment of target cells with cytochalasin B, and is not affected by target membrane glycosphingolipid composition.

Cytokine-like protein 1 (CYTL1) is a secreted protein. CYTL1 is expressed in CD34+ cell populations of bone marrow and cord blood which function as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. However, CYTL1 is not expressed in CD34- cells. Experiments with knock-out mice (Cytl1-/-) propose that CYTL1 is essential for the maintenance of cartilage homeostasis rather than cartilage and bone development, and loss of CYTL1 function is linked with experimental osteoarthritic cartilage destruction in mice.

Neurotrophic Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 2, also referred to NTRK2, is a tyrosine-protein kinase receptor which takes part in the development & the maturation of the central and the peripheral nervous systems through regulation of neuron survival, migration, proliferation, differentiation and synapse formation & plasticity. NTRK2 acts in learning and memory by regulating both short term synaptic function and long-term potentiation. The substrates that are known for the TRK family receptors are: SHC1, PI-3 kinase and PLC-gamma-1.

IL-31 produced by activated Th2-type T cells, cooperates with a heterodimeric receptor consisting of IL-31 Receptor Anatagonist and Onconstatin-M Receptor that is continuesly expressed on epithelial cells and keratinocytes. IL-31 plays a role in the promotion of allergic skin disorders and in regulating other allergic diseases, such as asthma. IL-31 is involved in the itching sensation and endorses the scratching behavior in NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. IL-31 expression is connectd with CLA(+) T cells and contributes to the development of atopic dermatitis-induced skin inflammation and pruritus. IL-31 is a powerful inducer of proinflammatory mediators in human colonic SEMFs. IL-31 takes part as a proinflammatory cytokine derived from Th2 cells.
Serum IL-31 level is higher in patients with atopic dermatitis. IL-31 is involved in a broad range of immune- & non-immune cells & possesses potential pleiotropic physiological functions, including regulating hematopoiesis & immune response, causing inflammatory bowel disease, airway hypersensitivity & dermatitis.

Interleukin-6 is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine primarily produced by activated T cells and an assortment of other cells including endothelial cells and macrophages. IL-6 affects B and T lymphocytes and has been shown to have a role in host defense, acute phase reactions, immune responses and hematopoiesis.

CCL25 (Teck) is a novel CC chemokine, which is distantly related (about 20% amino acid sequence identity) to other CC chemokines. The mouse CCL25 cDNA has also been cloned and shown to encode a 144 a.a. protein, which exhibits 49% a.a. sequence identity to the human CCL25. Human and mouse CCL25 expression was shown to be greatly restricted to the thymus and small intestine. While dendritic cells are identified as the source of CCL25 production in the thymus, dendritic cells derived from bone marrow do not express CCL25. CCL25 signals through the CCR9 receptor. Teck is possibly involved in T-cell development.
Recombinant human and mouse Teck were shown to be chemotactic for activated macrophages, dendritic cells and thymocytes. The recombinant protein demonstrates chemotactic activity on thymocytes, macrophages, THP-1 cells, and dendritic cells but is inactive on peripheral blood lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Interleukin-5 receptor subunit alpha (Il5ra) regulates the development and function of eosinophils. The Il5ra protein is a therapeutic target for hypereosinophilic diseases including allergic inflammations and asthma. Oct2 enhances antibody-secreting cell differentiation via regulation of Il5ra chain expression on activated B cells.