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Alpha 1-microglobulin (A1M) is a lipocalin superfamily member (kernal lipocalins). A1M is a low molecular weight protein component of plasma. A1M is distributed in plasma and extravascular compartments of all organs. Alpha-1 Microglobulin is found in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. The primary sites of A1M synthesis are the liver and the kidney. Around the opening of the lipocalin pocket three lysyl residues are situated; those residues carry yellow-brown modification derived from the binding and degradation of heme and kynurenin (a tryptophan metabolite). A1-Microglobulin’s reductase and dehydrogenase have broad biological substrate specificity properties due to its’ free cysteine side-chain which is located in a flexible loop. Alpha-1-microglobulin is glycosylated by three separate carbohydrate chains: two complex carbohydrates which are N-linked to asparagines at residues 17 and 96, and the other simple carbohydrate which is O-linked to threonine at position 5. The carbohydrates comprise 22% of the total molecular mass of the protein. The glycosylation varies between species.
A1M exists in two forms- a free form and complexed to other macromolecules: in humans- complexed to immunoglobulin A (IgA), in rat- complexed to alpha-1-inhibitor-3. Free A1M is exceptionally heterogeneous in charge (therefore also known as protein HC), and is found tightly linked to a chromophore. The free Alpha-1-microglobulin is a monomeric protein composed of one 188 residue polypeptide and contains three cysteines, two of which (residues 75 and 173) form a conserved intra-molecular disulphide link. The chromophoric group is covalently bound to the free cysteine residue at position 34. A1M binds retinol as a major ligand, but this is probably distinct from its covalent chromophore.
Half of all human plasma A1M (approximately 0.03mg/ml) forms a 1:1 complex with about 5% of plasma immunoglobulin A. The resulting macromolecular complexes’ molecular weight is 200000, and a plasma concentration of 0.3mg/ml. The complex can exhibit both antibody activity and affect many of the biological actions of free Alpha-1-microglobulin.
Alpha-1-microglobulin was first discovered in pathological human urine.
It was suggested that A1M might be involved in tissue defense against reactive oxygen species, oxidation by heme and kynurenin. Evidence also suggests that A1M functions in the regulation of the immune system. Other functions include inhibition of stimulation of cultured lymphocytes by protein antigens; induction of cell division of lymphocytes, a mitogenic effect that can either be enhanced or inhibited by the action of other plasma components; inhibition of neutrophil granulocyte migration in vitro; and inhibition of chemotaxis.

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.

NFKBID belongs to the IkB family of proteins which contains four groups (IkB-alpha, IkB-beta, IkB-gamma, IkB-epsilon). NFKBID takes part in regulating inflammatory responses and cytokine, IL-2 and IL-6 expression through NFkB activity. NFKBID has 3 known alternative spliced isoforms, and is associated with RelB, NF?B p50 and NFkB p65 in nucleus. NFKBID is involeved in thymocyte selection in response to TCR induction.

POU2AF1 is a lymphocyte specific transcription coactivator protein. POU2AF1 cooperates only with the Oct1/2 proteins using sub domains in the POU domain of the Oct1/2 proteins, increasing their transcriptional efficiency. Even though POU2AF1 have no basic ability to bind DNA, it links firmly with the octomer motif in the presence of Oct1 and Oct2. POU2AF1 is expressed at maximum levels in spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.

Angiogenin (ANG) is a part of the RNase A family. ANG is an extremely effective mediator of new blood vessel formation. ANG Cleaves tRNA within anticodon loops in order to produce tRNA-derived stress-induced fragments (tiRNAs) that inhibit protein synthesis and trigger the assembly of stress granules. ANG is also stimulates ribosomal RNA synthesis. The interaction with RNH1 in vivo regulates the Angiogenic activity.

S100A10 is a member of the S100 family of proteins contains two EF-hand calcium-binding motifs and is thought to be involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes including cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100 proteins are localized either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus of a wide range of cells. There are at least 13 members in the S100 gene family, which are located as a cluster on chromosome 1q21. S100A10 may function in exocytosis and endocytosis.

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

Odd-Skipped Related Transcription Factor 2, also know as OSR2 belongs to the Odd C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. OSR2 is a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila odd-skipped family of transcription factors.

Salmonella Typhi is a pathogen causing typhoid fever, affecting over 17 million people with approximately 600,000 deaths annually worldwide. If untreated, typhoid fever cases result in mortality rates ranging from 12-30%.

Chromosome 7 Open Reading Frame 49 (C7ORF49) is affiliated with the lncRNA class. C7ORF49 characterizes the hamster ortholog and suggests that it may modulate the ability of the proteasome to degrade retroviral cores upon cellular infection.

G antigen family D member 2 (XAGE1A) belongs to the XAGE subfamily, which is a member of the GAGE family. The GAGE genes are expressed various tumors and in a number of fetal and reproductive tissues. XAGE1A contains a nuclear localization signal and shares a sequence similarity with other GAGE/PAGE proteins. XAGE1A is strongly expressed in Ewing's sarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and normal testis. Due to the expression pattern and the sequence similarity, the XAGE1A protein is also a member of a family of CT (cancer-testis) antigens.

Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein is a membrane protein expressed on the oligodendrocyte cell surface and the outermost surface of myelin sheaths. Due to this localization, it is a prime target antigen that plays a role in immune-mediated demyelination. Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein is involved in completion and maintenance of the myelin sheath and in cell-cell communication. MOG protein was found to differentially expressed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and in the temporal lobe from patients with schizophrenia. MOG-specific antibody is crucial to the initiation of MOG-induced murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Beta Defensin 116, also known as DEFB116 is a member of the beta-defensin family.DEFB116 has antibacterial activity. The innate immune system includes antimicrobial peptides that protect multicellular organisms from a diverse spectrum of microorganisms. In addition, Beta-Defensins contain one important family of mammalian antimicrobial peptides.

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.

SLPI is a secreted inhibitor which guards epithelial tissues from serine proteases. SLPI is localized in various secretions including seminal plasma, cervical mucus, and bronchial secretions, and has affinity for trypsin, leukocyte elastase, and cathepsin G. SLPI inhibitory effect contributes to the immune response by protecting epithelial surfaces from attack by endogenous proteolytic enzymes. SLPI protein has broad-spectrum anti-biotic activity. SLPI is an acid-stable proteinase inhibitor with strong affinities for trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, and cathepsin G. SLPI prevents elastase-mediated damage to oral and mucosal tissues.

ICOS (inducible T-cell costimulatory) belongs to the CD28 family of immune-assisted stimulatory receptors. ICOS forms homodimers and takes a significant part in immune responses, cell-cell signaling, as well as regulation of cell proliferation. The interaction of B7-H2 / ICOS takes a vital role in T-cell differentiation, T-B cell interaction in addition to humoral immune response is essential for the formation of reproductive centers as well as the production of cytokine IL-4. Moreover, ICOS is more effective in inducing IL-10 production, a cytokine which is important for the inhibitory function of T regulatory cells. The ICOS-B7RP-1 and B7-1 / B7-2-CD28 / CTLA-4 pathways offer a significant second signal which can regulate the inhibition, activation and fine regulation of T-lymphocyte responses. ICOS stimulates the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, however it can also participate in the generation of Th2 cells.

OLR1 is a type II membrane protein which belongs to the C-type lectin family and performs as a cell-surface receptor for Ox-LDL. Ox-LDL has a part in early ather-osclerosis, which includes the transformation of monocyte-derived macro-phages to foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions. In addition, OLR1 protein triggers the activation of the NF?B signal transduction pathway.

Plasma fibronectin level is elevated in severe coronary artery disease. Increased plasma fibronectin levels are related with venous thromboembolism (VTE) particularly in males, and extend the probable association between biomarkers and risk factors for arterial atherothrombosis and VTE. Fibronectin plays a role in several cellular processes, including tissue repair, embryogenesis, blood clotting, and cell migration/adhesion. Fibronectin consists in two main forms: 1) as an insoluble glycoprotein dimer that serves as a linker in the extracellular matrix and 2) as a soluble disulphide linked dimer found in the plasma. The plasma form is produced by hepatocytes, and the ECM form is synthesized by fibroblasts, chondrocytes, endothelial cells, macrophages, as well as certain epithelial cells. Fibronectin also takes part as a general cell adhesion molecule by anchoring cells to collagen or proteoglycan substrates. Fibronectin organizes cellular interaction with the ECM by binding to different components of the extracellular matrix and to membrane-bound Fibronectin receptors on cell surfaces.

Aprotinin inhibits the activity of several proteolytic enzymes such as chymotrypsin, kallikrein, plasmin and trypsin. Aprotinin is present in blood and in most tissues, with a high concentration in lung. Aprotinin inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine release and maintains glycoprotein homeostasis. In platelets, aprotinin reduces glycoprotein loss (e.g., GpIb, GpIIb/IIIa), while in granulocytes it prevents the expression of pro-inflammatory adhesive glycoproteins (e.g., CD11b).

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.

S100 calcium binding protein A5 (S100A5) belongs to the S100 family of proteins containing 2 EF-hand calcium-binding motifs. S100 family members are localized in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of a wide range of cells, and are involved in the regulation of a number of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and differentiation. S100A5 has a Ca2+ affinity 20-100 fold higher than the other S100 proteins investigated under identical conditions. Furthermore, S100A5 protein binds Zn2+ and Cu2+, and Cu2+ strongly which harms the binding of Ca2+. S100A5 is expressed in very limited regions of the adult brain.

Asialoglycoprotein Receptor 2 (ASGR2) is a hetero-oligomeric protein comprised of major and minor subunits, encoded by different genes. ASGR2 is a subunit of the asialoglycoprotein receptor; it is the less abundant minor subunit. The ASGR2 receptor is a transmembrane protein, which has a crucial role in serum glycoprotein homeostasis by mediating the endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of glycoproteins with exposed terminal galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine residues.

Oral cancer-overexpressed protein 1 (ORAOV1) is a candidate oncogene in the 11q13 chromosomal region. Functional analyses showed that ORAOV1 was involved in the regulation of HeLa cell growth via its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis. ORAOV1 is widely expressed; it has a high expression in the placenta, kidney and skeletal muscle. ORAOV1 is amplified and overexpressed in oral cancer cells.