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TAGLN3 holds a putative Actin-binding domain, two potential phosphorylation sites, two EF-hand motifs and a calponin-homology (CH) domain. TAGLN3 is homologic to transgelin and calponin, two cytoskeleton-interacting proteins. TAGLN3 is a member of the calponin family, and is co-localized with Actin and tubulin, which indicates that TAGLN3 has a part in neuronal plasticity or as a signaling protein. As a result of a wide-ranging expression pattern, TAGLN3 is able to take different roles in the developing and adult brain.

Neurotrophic Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 3 (NTRK3)belongs to the receptor tyrosine kinases family and is a high affinity catalytic receptor of neurotrophin NT-3. NTRK3 mediates multiple effects of this neurotrophic factor, which includes neuronal differentiation and survival. NTRK3 inducesvarious pleiotorpic responses in malignant cells, including enhanced tumor cell invasiveness and chemotoxis.Increased NTRK3 expression was observed in neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, and in neuroectodermal brain tumors.

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.

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

PRKAG1 is a regulatory subunit of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a heterotrimer comprised of an alpha catalytic subunit, and non-catalytic beta and gamma subunits. AMPK is a vital energy-sensing enzyme which supervises cellular energy status. PRKAG1 is one of the gamma regulatory subunits of AMPK. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding dissimilar isoforms were found.

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.

CNTF is a polypeptide hormone whose actions appear to be restricted to the nervous system where it promotes neurotransmitter synthesis and neurite outgrowth in certain neuronal populations. The protein is a potent survival factor for neurons and oligodendrocytes and may be relevant in reducing tissue destruction during inflammatory attacks. A mutation in this gene, which results in aberrant splicing, leads to ciliary neurotrophic factor deficiency, but this phenotype is not causally related to neurologic disease. In addition to the predominant monocistronic transcript originating from this locus, the gene is also co-transcribed with the upstream ZFP91 gene. Co-transcription from the two loci results in a transcript that contains a complete coding region for the zinc finger protein but lacks a complete coding region for ciliary neurotrophic factor.
CNTF is a survival factor for various neuronal cell types. Seems to prevent the degeneration of motor axons after axotomy.

GDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of neurons in culture, and is able to prevent apoptosis of motor neurons induced by axotomy. The encoded protein is processed to a mature secreted form that exists as a homodimer. The mature form of the protein is a ligand for the product of the RET (rearranged during transfection) protooncogene. In addition to the transcript encoding GDNF, two additional alternative transcripts encoding distinct proteins, referred to as astrocyte-derived trophic factors, have also been described. Mutations in this gene may be associated with Hirschsprung disease.
GDNF enhances survival and morphological differentiation of neurons and increases their high-affinity uptake.

LAIR1 is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of the majority of human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes including T cells, B cells, NK cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. LAIR-1 functions as an inhibitory receptor in NK cells, T cells and B cells. Inhibitory receptors control the immune response to prevent lysis of cells recognized as self. Lair1 consists of a leader sequence, extracellular domain, transmembrane domain, cytoplasmic region.LAIR1 is a member of both the immunoglobulin superfamily and the leukocyte-associated inhibitory receptor family. LAIR1 maps to a region of 19q13.4 labeled the leukocyte receptor cluster, which contains at least 29 genes encoding leukocyte-expressed receptors of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP2) belongs to the WNT1 inducible signaling pathway (WISP) protein subfamily, which belongs to the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) family. The CTGF family members are characterized by 4 conserved cysteine-rich domains: insulin-like growth factor-binding domain, von Willebrand factor type C module, thrombospondin domain and C-terminal cystine knot-like (CT) domain. WISP2 protein lacks the CT domain which is implicated in dimerization binding. WISP2 is possibly involved in bone remodeling. WISP2 is expressed in primary osteoblasts and fibroblasts. WISP2 stimulates osteoblast adhesion and inhibits osteocalcin production. WISP2 expression in colon tumors is reduced while the other 2 WISP members are overexpressed in colon tumors. WISP2 may play an imperative role in modulating bone turnover.

HOMER2 belongs to the homer family of dendritic proteins which are immediate early gene products who bind to group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), proteins associated to triggering intracellular calcium release. Additionally, HOMER2 conect mGluRs to the inositol triphosphate receptors (IP3R).

IFIH1 is a DEAD box protein which is upregulated in response to treatment with beta-interferon and a protein kinase C-activating compound, mezerein. Irreversible reprogramming of melanomas can be attained by therapy with both these agents; treatment with either agent alone only achieves reversible differentiation. DEAD box proteins are implicated in several cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly.

Nipsnap Homolog 1 (NIPSNAP1) belongs to the NipSnap family. NIPSNAP1 may take part in vesicular transport. A similar protein in mice inhibits the calcium channel TRPV6, and it is localized to the inner mitochondrialmembrane as well, where it may be involved in mitochondrial DNA maintenance. A pseudogene of NIPSNAP1 is located onthe short arm of chromosome 17. Among the diseases associated with NIPSNAP1 are maple syrup urine disease, and phenylketonuria.

NT3 a member of the neurotrophin family, that controls survival and differentiation of mammalian neurons. This protein is closely related to both nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It may be involved in the maintenance of the adult nervous system, and may affect development of neurons in the embryo when it is expressed in human placenta. NTF3-deficient mice generated by gene targeting display severe movement defects of the limbs. The mature peptide of this protein is identical in all mammals examined including human, pig, rat and mouse.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 8 (TNFRSF8) is a receptor for TNFSF8/CD30L. TNFRSF8 has a role in the regulation of cellular growth and transformation of activated lymphoblasts. In addition, the TNFRSF8 protein regulates gene expression via activation of NF-kappa-B. TNFRSF8 being a regulator of apoptosis, induces cell death or proliferation, depending on the cell type.

Herpesvirus entry mediator or HVEM or tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 14 or TNFRSF14, is part of the TNF receptors family that is a receptor located on the cell surface. The cytoplasmic area of this receptor can bind all sorts of TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) protein. Those proteins can mediate pathways activating an immune response. The MITF is regulating TNFRSF14 gene expression.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein present in fetal digestive-tract tissues; it’s involved in cell adhesion. The production of CEA stops before birth. CEA is called tumor marker since its elevated levels are found in the serum from individuals with colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, lung and breast carcinomas and in heavy smokers.
There are also benign conditions that elevate CEA levels such as smoking, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors (in the equivalent organs which have cancers with elevated CEA). Typically, higher levels of CEA are found in men, smokers, and older individuals.
The presence of CEA assists in screening, in evaluating recurrent or disseminated disease, and in determining the success of surgical removal of malignant tumors.
CEA levels can be used as indicators of treatment success. The normal values range from 0.0 to 2.5 ng/ml of serum (from blood), in non-smokers, a greater amount than that may be suggestive of cancer. Levels above 20 ng/ml before treatment are associated with cancer which has already metastasized. Benign conditions do not usually cause a CEA increase over 10 ng/ml.
The high levels of CEA should return to normal after successful therapy, however if during follow up there’s an elevation in CEA levels it indicates a recurrence of tumor.
Carcinoembryonic antigen family belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily; it consists of 29 genes, 18 of which are normally expressed.

GMFB is part of the GMF subfamily of the larger actin-binding protein ADF family. GMFB is phosphorylated after phorbol ester stimulation, and is crucial for the nervous system. GMFB causes brain cell differentiation, stimulates neural regeneration and inhibits tumor cell proliferation. GMFB overexpression in astrocytes results in the increase of BDNF production. GMFB expression is increased by exercise, thus BDNF is important for exercise-induction of BDNF.

CB1 cannabinoid receptor-interacting protein 1 (CNRIP1) is a 164 amino acid protein and G-protein coupled receptor which is a member of the CNRIP family. The CNRIP1 interacts with the C-terminal tail of cannabinoid receptor 1. CNRIP1 is expressed in the brain tissue and, at low levels, in the testis. CNRIP1 is involved in appetite, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection and analgesia.

DYNLL1 is a protein that cooperates with NOS1 causing NOS1 inhibition. Binding of DYNLL1 weakens NOS1 (Neuronal nitric oxide synthase) dimer, a conformation needed for activity, and it regulates several biologic processes through its effects on nitric oxide synthase activity. DYNLL1 is a ubiquitously expressed protein that demonstrates high expression in testis and moderate expression in brain.

Neuron-specificenolase also caled NSE is a glycolytic isoenzyme which is situated in central and peripheral neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Enolase-2 is released into the CSF when neural tissue is injured. Neoplasms derived from neural or neuroendocrine tissue release Enolase-2 into the blood. Enolase-2 is a useful substance that has been detected in patients with certain tumors, such as neuroblastoma, small cell lung cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, carcinoid tumors, pancreatic endocrine tumors, and melanoma. ENO2 is 1 of the 3 enolase isoenzymes found in mammals. ENO2 isoenzyme, is found in mature neurons and cells of neuronal origin. An exchange from alpha enolase to gamma enolase occurs in neural tissue during development in rats and primates.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), also known as argipressin or antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a human hormonethat is released when the body is low on water; it causes the kidneysto conserve water, but not salt, by concentrating the urineand reducing urine volume. It also raises blood pressure by inducing moderate vasoconstriction. It has various effects in the brain.
A very similar substance, lysine vasopressin (LVP) or lypressin, has the same function in pigsand is often used in human therapy.
Vasopressin is a peptide hormone. It is derived from a preprohormoneprecursor that is synthesized in the hypothalamus, from which it is liberated during transport to the posterior pituitary. Most of it is stored in the posterior partof the pituitary glandto be released into the blood stream; some of it is also released directly into the brain.
AVP allows water reabsorption by the introduction of additional water channels in cortical and inner medullary collecting ducts.