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Crk-like protein (CRKL) is a protein kinase containing SH2 and SH3 (src homology) domains which activates the RAS and JUN kinase signaling pathways and transforms fibroblasts in a RAS-dependent manner. CRKL is a substitute of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, it also has a role in fibroblast transformation by BCR-ABL, and has oncogenic potential.

PDGF-BB is a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family. The four members of this family are mitogenic factors for cells of mesenchymal origin and are characterized by a motif of eight cysteines. This gene product can exist either as a homodimer (PDGF-BB) or as a heterodimer with the platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide (PDGF-AB), where the dimers are connected by disulfide bonds. Mutations in this gene are associated with meningioma. Reciprocal translocations between chromosomes 22 and 7, at sites where this gene and that for COL1A1 are located, are associated with a particular type of skin tumor called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans resulting from unregulated expression of growth factor. Two splice variants have been identified for this gene.

Periostin is a disulfide linked 90 kDa, 811 amino acid protein originally isolated as a osteoblast-specific factor that functions as a cell adhesion molecule for preosteoblasts and is thought to be involved in osteoblast recruitment, attachment and spreading. Additionally, periostin expression has previously been shown to be significantly increased by both transforming growth factor beta-1(TGFbeta1) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2). OSF-2 has a typical signal sequence, followed by a cysteine-rich domain, a fourfold repeated domain and a C-terminal domain. The fourfold repeated domain of OSF-2 shows homology with the insect protein fasciclin
Periostin mRNA is expressed in the developing mouse embryonic and fetal heart, and that it is localized to the endocardial cushions that ultimately divide the primitive heart tube into a four-chambered heart.

S100A8 is a part of the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 proteins are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a broad range of cells, and participate in the regulation of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A8 plays a role in the inhibition of casein kinase and as a cytokine. S100A8 altered expression is related with cystic fibrosis disease. S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein that has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.S100A8 is crucial for resistance towards invasion by pathogenic bacteria. S100A8 up-regulates transcription of genes that are under the control of NF-kappa-B. S100A8 plays a role in the development of endotoxic shock in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. S100A8 endorses tubulin polymerization and promotes phagocyte migration and infiltration of granulocytes at sites of wounding. S100A8 takes part as a pro-inflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation and up-regulates the release of IL8 and cell-surface expression of ICAM1.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and 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/macrophage migration, 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 mitogenesis and 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.

Melanoma Antigen Family A 8, also known as MAGEA8 belongs to the MAGE gene family, which includes twelve known genes, of which six are expressed in tumors. Furthermore, the MAGE genes were at first isolated from different kinds of tumors, and according to their virtually exclusive tumor-specific expression in adult tissues, they have been used as targets for cancer immunotherapy.

Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signaling protein involved in both vasculogenesis and 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 are linked to POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Mutations in this gene have been associated with proliferative and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

CRK belongs to the signaling adapter protein family which binds to several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. CRK is involved in many cellular processes such as apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation. CRK has a modular domain architecture consisting of an SH2 followed by two SH3 domains (src-homology domains). The N-terminal SH2 domain of the CRK protein functions as a positive regulator of transformation whereas the C-terminal SH3 domain functions as a negative regulator of transformation.

Annexin A8-like 2 (ANXA8L2) belongs to the annexin family of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Annexin family members are regulators of such varied processes such as ion flux, endocytosis and exocytosis, and cellular adhesion. ANXA8L2 is a membrane binding protein with various properties, including voltage-sensitive calcium channel activity, ion selectivity and membrane fusion. ANXA8L2 overexpressionis linked to acute myelocytic leukemia. ANXA8L2 may act as an anticoagulant which indirectly inhibits the thromboplastin-specific complex.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important signaling protein involved in vessel formation 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/macrophage migration, neurons, cancer cells, kidney epithelial cells ). VEGF mediates increased vascular permeability, induces vasculogenesis and endothelial cell production, promotes cell migration, and inhibits apoptosis. In vitro, VEGF has been shown to stimulate endothelial cell mitogenesis and cell migration. VEGF is also a vasodilator and increases microvascular permeability and was originally referred to as vascular permeability factor. VEGF is located in normal cartilage though only osteoarthritic cartilage expresses the VEGF receptors, NP1, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The VEGF level in the culture media from OA chondrocytes was more than 3 folds higher than in media from normal chondrocytes

Annexin A10 (ANXA10) is a member of the annexin family of calcium-binding proteins that contains a few members which are described by a conserved core domain that binds phospholipids in a Ca2+-dependent manner, and a unique amino-terminal region, which may convene binding specificity. The ANXA10 protein contains 4 annexin domains and might be required in the regulation of cellular growth and signal transduction pathways throughout the cell.

Tachykinin-3 belongs to the substance P-related tachykinin family. Tachykinins are active peptides that stimulate neurons, induce behavioral responses, are effective vasodilators and secretagogues, and contract (directly or indirectly) many smooth muscles. TAC3 and its receptor are essential switches of regulator of human puberty, regulated by the brain through the release of the GnRH which starts a chain of processes which eventually lead to the production of sex hormones.
During pregnancy, the expression of TAC3 is restricted to the outer syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta, significant concentrations of TAC3 can be identified in plasma as early as week 9, and plasma concentrations of TAC3 are grossly elevated in pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Higher Tachykinin-3 concentrations in normotensive pregnant women may be caused by the advanced gestational age and/or the result of a negative interaction of other vasoactive substances. TAC3 has a role in the continuance of high placental blood flow in normal pregnancy.

Renin is a highly specific endopeptidase which generates angiotensin I from angiotensinogen in the plasma. angiotensin I is an important regulator of blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Renin initiates a cascade of reactions that produce an elevation of blood pressure and increased sodium retention by the kidney.

ANXA6 is part of the family of calcium-dependent membrane and phospholipid binding proteins. ANXA6 mediats the endosome aggregation and vesicle fusion in secreting epithelia during exocytosis. ANXA6 correlates with CD21. ANXA6 regulates the release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores. ANXA6 is differentially expressed in the lumbar spinal cord from rats submitted to peripheral lesion during neonatal period.

ANXA8 is part of the annexin family of evolutionarily conserved Ca2+ and phospholipid binding proteins. ANXA8 is an anticoagulant protein that functions as an indirect inhibitor of the thromboplastin-specific complex, which takes part in the blood coagulation cascade. Where co-expressed in the same tissues, ANXA8 is expressed at a 100-fold lower level than Annexin A5. Though, ANXA8 is preferentially expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells which suggests its involvement in hematopoietic cell differentiation.

TIE-1 (tyrosine kinase with Ig and EGF homology domains 1) and TIE-2/Tek comprise a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) subfamily with unique structural characteristics: two immunoglobulin-like domains flanking three epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains and followed by three fibronectin type III-like repeats in the extracellular region and a split tyrosine kinase domain in the cytoplasmic region. These receptors are expressed primarily on endothelial and hematopoietic progenitor cells and play critical roles in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and hematopoiesis. Human TIE-1 cDNA encodes a 1122 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with an 18 residue putative signal peptide, a 726 residue extracellular domain and a 353 residue cytoplasmic domain. Two ligands, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), which bind TIE-2 with high-affinity have been identified. Ang2 has been reported to act as an antagonist for Ang1. Mice engineered to overexpress Ang2 or to lack Ang1 or Tie-1 display similar angiogenic defects.

Legumain, also known as LGMN is a lysosomal cysteine protease which is found in all mouse tissues, however it was mainly abundant in the kidney as well as placenta. LGMN plays an essential role in the endosomal/lysosomal degradation system as the Legumain deficiency causes the accumulation of pro cathepsins B, H & L, another group of lysosomal cysteine proteases. Furthermore, over expression of LGMN in tumors is important for invasion/metastasis.

Chromogranin A is a 439 amino acid protein which is encoded on chromosome 14 and is present in neuroendocrine cells throughout the body, including the neuroendocrine cells of the large and small intestine, adrenal medulla and pancreatic islets. It is an excellent marker for carcinoid tumors, phenochromocytomas, paragangliomas, and other neuroendocrine tumors.
Coexpression of chromogranin A and neuron specific enolase (NSE) is common in neuroendocrine neoplasms.

Vanin 1 (VNN1) belongs to the vanin family of proteins, which share extensive sequence similarity with each other, and also with biotinidase. This family includes secreted and membrane-associated proteins, a few of which have been described to participate in hematopoietic cell trafficking. No biotinidase activity has been established for any of the vanin proteins; nevertheless, they possess pantetheinase activity, which may have a role in oxidative-stress response. VNN1 protein, like its mouse homolog, is probably a GPI-anchored cell surface molecule. The mouse VNN1 protein is expressed by the perivascular thymic stromal cells and regulates migration of T-cell progenitors to the thymus. VNN1 is an amidohydrolase which hydrolyzes specifically one of the carboamide linkages in D-pantetheine thus recycling pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).

Anthrax toxin receptor 2, also known as ANTXR2, takes part in the configuration of little blood vessels (capillaries). ANTXR2 helps the toxin that leads to anthrax to attach to cells and trigger illness. ANTXR2 is necessary for cellular interactions with laminin and the extracellular matrix.

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) is a proteoglycan secreted by endothelial cells (mostly in the human lung and kidney tissues) and its mRNA expression is regulated by inflammatory cytokines. ESM1 has potent implications in lung endothelial cell-leukocyte interactions. In addition, ESM1 expression is detected in various epithelia and in adipocytes. ESM1 is involved in angiogenesis and it also promotes angiogenic sprouting. ESM1 expression is upregulated by TNF alpha, IL1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide and downregulated by IFN gamma. Genetically engineered cells overexpressing ESM1 induce tumor formation, implying that ESM1 might be involved in the pathophysiology of tumor growth in vivo.

Annexin A13 (ANXA13) belongs to the annexin protein family, whose members play a role in cytoskeletal interactions, phospholipase inhibition, regulation of cellular growth, and intracellular signal transduction pathways. ANXA13 is believed to be the original originator of the 12 members of vertebrate annexins. ANXA13 expression is decidedly tissue-specific, being expressed only in intestinal and kidney epithelial cells. This expression is linked with a highly differentiated intracellular transport function.

EPGN is an EGF-related polypeptide growth factor that signals through the ErbB receptor-1. EPGN is produced in numerous tissues, including the testis, liver, heart and in certain tumor cells. EPGN is mitogenic for fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Human EPGN is originally synthesized as a glycosylated 14.7 kDa transmembrane precursor protein, which is processed by proteolytic cleavage to produce a mature soluble sequence.