Search results

XCL1 is a small cytokine belongs to the XC chemokine family that is also known as lymphotactin. XCL1 is found in high levels in spleen, thymus, intestine and peripheral blood leukocytes, and at lower levels in lung, prostate gland and ovary. Cellular sources for XCL1 include activated thymic and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. This chemokine attracts T cells. In humans, XCL1 is closely related to XCL2, whose gene is found at the same locus on chromosome 1. XCL1 induces it chemotactic function by binding to a chemokine receptor called XCR1.

Kallikrein-3 or KLK3 is a serine proteases subgroup, enzymes can cleave peptide bonds. KLK3 is found in the prostate and may be hold accountable to the regulation of semen liquefaction via seminogelin hydrolysis. The protein is expressed in low concentrations in men with healthy prostates serum. When elevated quantities are found it may show prostate cancer or different prostate disorders such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

KLRB1 has an inhibitory role on natural killer (NK) cells cytotoxicity which are lymphocytes who facilitate cytotoxicity and secrete cytokines subsequent to immune stimulation. Some genes of the C-type lectin superfamily, like the rodent NKRP1 family of glycoproteins, are expressed by NK cells and take part in NK cell function regulation. KLRB1 holds an extracellular domain with a few characteristic motifs of C-type lectins, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. Due to its external C terminus KLRB1 is considered to be a type II membrane protein.

Follistatin is a single-chain gonadal protein that specifically inhibits follicle-stimulating hormone release. The single FST gene encodes two isoforms, FST317 and FST344 containing 317 and 344 amino acids respectively, resulting from alternative splicing of the precursor mRNA. In a study in which 37 candidate genes were tested for linkage and association with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hyperandrogenemia in 150 families, evidence was found for linkage between PCOS and follistatin. Follistatin binds directly to activin and functions as an activin antagonist. specific inhibitor of the biosynthesis and secretion of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (fsh).

Osteopontin is a glycoprotein that was first identified in osteoblasts and is involved in bone remodeling, immune functions in fibroblasts, macrophages, and lymphocytes during inflammation and wound healing. SPP1 binds tightly to hydroxyapatite. SPP1 forms an integral part of the mineralized matrix. SPP1 is vital to cell-matrix interaction.
Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 protects against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury via late preconditioning. Expression of both Ostepontin and CD44 in hepatocellular carcinoma is linked with advanced tumor stage and contributes to prognosis information. SPP1 is the most over-expressed gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Secreted Phosphoprotein-1 overexpression is related with interstitial lung diseases.

Osteoprotegerin acts as decoy receptor for rankl and thereby neutralizes its function in osteoclastogenesis. OPG inhibits the activation of osteoclasts and promotes osteoclast apoptosis in vitro. Bone homeostasis seems to depend on the local rankl/opg ratio. Osteoprotegerin may also play a role in preventing arterial calcification. May act as decoy receptor for trail and protect against apoptosis. Trail binding blocks the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis.

Calcitonin (CT) is a peptide hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland in mammals and by the ultimobranchial gland of birds and fish. Salmon calcitonin (sCT), which is more potent and longer lasting than human CT, has been used widely for the treatment of osteoporosis, paget's disease, hypercalcemic shock and chronic pain in terminal cancer patients. sCT is one of the many bioactive peptides that require C-terminal amidation for full biological activity.

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family which is part of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. The superfamily includes large families of growth and differentiation factors. Bone morphogenetic proteins were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. This particular family member plays an important role in the onset of endochondral bone formation in humans, and a reduction in expression has been associated with a variety of bone diseases, including the heritable disorder Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Alternative splicing in the 5' untranslated region of this gene has been described and three variants are described, all encoding an identical protein.

L-Selectin belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. The L-Selectin molecule is composed of various domains: one homologous to lectins, one to epidermal growth factor, and two to the consensus repeat units found in C3/C4 binding proteins.
L-selectin is expressed constitutively on lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes and interacts specifically with carbohydrate groups on activated endothelial cells. L-Selectin may be shed by proteolytic cleavage and circulating levels in biological fluids may be used as an indicator of various pathological conditions. L-Selectin is cleaved by ADAM17.
L-selectin works as a "homing receptor" for leukocytes to enter secondary lymphoid tissues via the high endothelial venules. Ligands present on endothelial cells will attach to leukocytes expressing L-selectin, which causes the leukocytes to become localized at that juncture. The receptor is also located on the cell surfaces of "naive" T cells, which have not yet encountered their particular antigen. This surface expression is lost following the cells activation.

C-type lectin domain family 4, member E, also known as CLEC4E is a C-type lectin receptor expressed through a wide range of antigens which presents cells including macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells as well as B cells; Furthermore, a variety of stimuli including stress are acknowledged to induce the expression of CLEC4E.

MMP-1 (interstitial collagenase) can break down a wide range of substrates including types I, II, III, VII, VIII, and X collagens as well as L-Selectin, pro-TNF, IL-1?, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, casein, gelatin, ?1 antitrypsin, myelin basic protein, pro-MMP2 and pro-MMP9. A significant function of MMP-1 is the degradation of fibrillar collagens in extracellular matrix remodeling. MMP-1 is expressed in fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, monocytes and macrophages. MMP1 can be divided into a number of distinct domains: a prodomain which is cleaved on activation, a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site and a short hinge region with a carboxyl terminal domain. MMP1 is part of a cluster of MMP genes which localize to chromosome 11q22.3.

Kallikrein-5 (KLK5) is a member of the serine protease family of proteolytic enzymes. KLK5 is expressed in various tissues including the salivary gland, stomach, uterus, lung, thymus, prostate, colon, brain, thyroid, and trachea. KLK5 expression is up-regulated by estrogens and progestins. KLK5 is secreted and may be involved in desquamation in the epidermis. Kallikreins which are a subgroup of serine proteases, have distinct physiological functions. Many kallikreins are associated with carcinogenesis and some have potential as novel cancer and other disease biomarkers. The KLK5 gene is one of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19.

Killer Cell lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K, Member 1 (KLRK1) is an activating receptor which has recently generated considerable interest. The most fascinating of these, are a couple of closely related proteins known as MICA and MICB. These are cell-surface molecules distantly related to MHC class I proteins, and their genes have elements of heat shock promoters. Thus, MICA and MICB are expressed in the course of cell stress and are up-regulated in tumor cells and during viral infections. This receptor-ligand combination has a crucial role in the immune response to various pathologies.

Kallikrein-8 is a serine protease which degrades various proteins such as casein, fibrinogen, kininogen, fibronectin and collagen type IV. Kallikrein-8 takes part in the formation and maturation of orphan and small synaptic boutons in the Schaffer-collateral pathway, regulates Schaffer-collateral long-term potentiation in the hippocampus and is essential for memory acquisition and synaptic plasticity. Kallikrein-8 participates in the secondary phase of pathogenesis following spinal cord injury and also takes part in skin desquamation and keratinocyte proliferation.

Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Many kallikreins are implicated in carcinogenesis and some have potential of becoming novel cancer and other disease biomarkers. Kallikrein-13 (KLK13) is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. KLK13 gene expression is regulated by steroid hormones and may be useful as a marker for breast cancer.

KLK2 is a part of the grandular kallikrein protein family whose Members are engaged in a diverse array of biological functions. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases which are clustered on chromosome 19. KLK2 is a highly active trypsin-like serine protease which selectively cleaves at arginine remains. KLK2 is mostly expressed in prostatic tissue and is accountable for cleaving pro-prostate-specific antigen into its enzymatically active form. KLK2 is greatly expressed in prostate tumor cells and may possibly be a prognostic maker for prostate cancer risk.

Leptin takes an important part in the regulation of energy balance and body weight control.After entering the circulation, Leptin binds LEPRwhich results in the activation of several major signalling pathways. In the hypothalamus Leptin acts as an appetite-regulating factor that induces a decrease in food intake and an increase in energy consumption and also regulates bone mass and secretion of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal hormones. In the periphery, increases basal metabolism, regulates pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion and affects innate and adaptive immunity.

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.

Resistin, also known as adipose tissue-specific secretory factor (ADSF) is a cysteine-rich peptide derived from adipose tissue. Resistin takes part in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, and angiogenesis.Resistin blocks insulinstimulated uptake of glucose by adipocytes and promote glucose release by hepatocytes. As such,Resistin considered to participate in diet‑induced insulin-sensitivity. Resistin causes high levels of lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), increasing the risk of heart disease.

P-Selectin also called Platelet Alpha-Granule Membrane Protein, CD62, and Granulocyte Membrane Protein GRMP belongs to a family of divalent cation-dependent carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins or adhesion molecules. Pselectin is expressed transiently on the surface of activated platelets and endothelial cells. P-Selectin is a 140 kDa protein which is stored in the alpha-granules of platelets and Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells. Secreted P-selectin is thought to play a key role in the adhesion of platelets to monocytes and neutrophils during an inflammatory response. P-Selectin is a calcium-dependent receptor that binds to sialylated forms of Lewis blood group carbohydrate antigens on neutrophils and monocytes. Levels of P-Selectin may be elevated in a number of pathological conditions.

SCG3 belongs to the chromogranin/secretogranin family of neuroendocrine secretory proteins. Though, the function of SCG3 is unknown, Granins operate as precursors for biologically active peptides. Several granins are known to serve as helper proteins in sorting and proteolytic processing of prohormones.

SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor-1) is small cytokine belonging to the chemokine family that is officially designated Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12). It is produced in two forms, SDF-1?/CXCL12a and SDF-1?/CXCL12b, by alternate splicing of the same gene. Chemokines are characterized by the presence of four conserved cysteines, which form two disulfide bonds. The CXCL12 proteins belong to the group of CXC chemokines, whose initial pair of cysteines are separated by one intervening amino acid. CXCL12 is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and has been implicated as an important cell co-ordinator during development. During embryogenesis it directs the migration of hematopoietic cells from foetal liver to bone marrow. Mice which were knocked-out for CXCL12 gene were lethal before the birth or within just 1 hour of life. As another role, CXCL12a alters also the electrophysiology of neurons. CXCL12 was shown to be expressend in many tissues in mice (including brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and bone marrow).
The receptor for this chemokine is CXCR4, which was previously called fusin. This CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction used to be considered exclusive (unlike for other chemokines and their receptors), but recently it was suggested that CXCL12 is also bound by CXCR7 receptor.
The gene for CXCL12 is located on human chromosome 10. In human and mouse both CXCL12 and CXCR4 show high identity of sequence: 99% and 90%, respectively.

Myozenin 1 (MYOZ1) is a member of the myozenin family. MYOZ1 is mostly expressed in the skeletal muscle. Members of the myozenin family act as calcineurin-interacting proteins which helps tether calcineurin to the sarcomere of cardiac and skeletal muscle. The myozenin family plays a significant role in modulation of calcineurin signaling.