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The Defensin family are highly similar in their protein sequence and are microbicidal & cytotoxic peptides made by neutrophils. Beta Defensin-1 is an antimicrobial peptide having the resistance of epithelial surfaces to microbial colonization. Beta Defensin-1 has close proximity to Defensin Alpha-1 and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis.
Skin of patients having atopic dermatitis patients and mycosis fungoides (non-lesional and lesional) show lower human Beta Defensin-1 mRNA expression and higher human Beta Defensin-2 and human Beta Defensin-3 mRNA expression.
BBeta Defensin is highly expressed by epithelial cells.
Beta-defensin 1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis.
Variation in human Beta Defensin-1 contributes to asthma diagnosis, with apparent gender-specific effects. Human Beta Defensin-3 is a dimer, while Human BD-1 and Human BD-2 are monomeric. The expression of Human BD1 is correlated with induction profiles in gingival keratinocytes.
The level of expression of human DEFB1 mRNA is lower than that of human BD3 and human BD-2 in reconstructed epidermis.
Human BD1 is down-regulated in human prostatic and renal carcinomas.

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.

Members of the Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family regulate gene expression critical to immune response, hemopoiesis, and proliferation. IRF-3 is a member of the IRF family, and is distinct from other family members. Its transcriptional activity is regulated solely by posttranslational modifications. It plays a crucial role in activation of innate immunity and inflammation in response to viral infection. IRF-3 mediates interferon-stimulated response element (isre) promoter activation. Functions as a molecular switch for antiviral activity. Dsrna generated during the course of an viral infection leads to IRF3 phosphorylation on the c-terminal serine/threonine cluster. This induces a conformational change, leading to its dimerization, nuclear localization and association with creb binding protein (crebbp) to form dsrna-activated factor 1 (draf1), a complex which activates the transcription of genes under the control of isre. The complex binds to the ie and prdiii regions on the ifn

RELM-gamma is a novel member of the resistin-like molecule/found in inflammatory zone (RELM/FIZZ) family in mice and rats. Microarray and real-time RT-PCR experiments revealed a repression of RELMgamma mRNA in nasal respiratory epithelium of cigarette smoke-exposed versus untreated rats. The analysis of the physiological tissue-specific expression revealed highest expression in hematopoietic tissues, suggesting a cytokine-like role for RELM-gamma. RELM-gamma-mRNA is detectable in bone marrow, spleen, and lung as well as in peripheral blood granulocytes. Promyelocytic HL60 cells transfected with a RELM-gamma expression plasmid have an increased proliferation rate compared to mock-transfected cells and display an altered response to retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation. Taken together, these data provide the first experimental evidence that RELM-gamma is a secreted molecule with a restricted expression pattern that may play a role in promyelocytic differentiation.

IL12B is a subunit of interleukin 12 which is a cytokine that acts on T and natural killer cells, and has a broad array of biological activities. Interleukin 12 is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of the 40kDa cytokine receptor like subunit encoded by the IL12B gene, and a 35kDa subunit encoded by IL12A. The IL12B cytokine is expressed by activated macrophages which serve as an important inducer of Th1 cells development. The IL12B cytokine has been found to be important for sustaining a sufficient number of memory/effector Th1 cells to mediate long-term protection to an intracellular pathogen. Overexpression of the IL12B gene was observed in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting a role of the IL12B cytokine in the pathogenesis of the disease. The promoter polymorphism of the IL12B gene has been reported to be linked to the severity of atopic and non-atopic asthma in children.

IL3 is a potent growth promoting cytokine. This cytokine is capable of supporting the proliferation of a broad range of hematopoietic cell types. It is involved in a variety of cell activities such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. This cytokine has been shown to also possess neurotrophic activity, and it may be associated with neurologic disorders.

Human interleukin family 1, member 5 (IL-1F5 / FIL1-delta) belongs to the interleukin 1 cytokine family. IL1F5 is expressed by a variety of cells including monocytes, Bcells, dendritic cells/Langerhans cells, keratinocytes,and gastric fundus Parietal and Chief cells. IL1F5 is an antagonist of IL1F9; however IL1F5 activity related to receptor binding remains unclear. Human and mouse IL1F5 share 90% amino acid sequence identity.

Interleukin-10 is a multifunctional cytokine produced by a variety of cell types including T helper cells activated B cells and activated macrophages. Interleukin-10 regulates immune-mediated inflammation and modulates the function of cells such as lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killer cells and dendritic cells.

IFN-gamma produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens / mitogens.
IFN-gamma, on top of 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.

Clusterin also named Apolipoprotein J (APO-J) is a 75-80 kD disulfide-linked heterodimeric protein containing about 30% of N-linked carbohydrate rich in sialic acid but truncated forms targeted to the nucleus have also been identified. The precursor polypeptide chain is cleaved proteolytically to remove the 22-mer secretory signal peptide and subsequently between residues 227/228 to generate the ? and ? chains. These are assembled in anti-parallel to give a heterodimeric molecule in which the cysteine-rich centers are linked by five disulfide bridges and are flanked by two predicted coiled-coil ? -helices and three predicted amphipathic a-helices. Across a broad range of species clusterin shows a high degree of sequence homology ranging from 70% to 80%. It is nearly ubiquitously expressed in most mammalian tissues and can be found in plasma, milk, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and semen. It is able to bind and form complexes with numerous partners such as immunoglobulins, lipids, heparin, b

Angiopoietin-related protein 7 (ANGPTL7), belongs to the angiopoietin-like family of molecules. ANGPTL7 is expressed in the corneal stroma, trabecular meshwork, and sclera. ANGPTL7 production is up-regulated in trabecular meshwork cells by glucocorticoids and TGF-Beta and in cartilage by TNF-alpha.

Thrombopoietin or TPO or MGDF, is a protein (glycoprotein hormone) that can be found in the liver and kidney tissues. TPO regulates the creation of platelets. The protein enhances the production & differentiation of cells such as megakaryocytes that are part of the bone marrow cells that secretes a wide number of platelets. The cellular development process that ends up in the production of platelet calls (Megakaryocytopoiesis). Humoral growth factor is needed for the megakaryocyte proliferation & maturation of megakaryocyte, not apart from thrombopoiesis.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from mice with experimentally induced allergic pulmonary inflammation contains a novel 9.4 kDa cysteine-rich secreted protein, RELM-alpha (FIZZ1, found in inflammatory zone). RELM-alpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue stroma. Murine RELM-alpha (FIZZ1) is the founding member of a new gene family including two other murine genes expressed, respectively, in intestinal crypt epithelium (RELM-beta) and white adipose tissue (Resistin), and two related human genes.
RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes but has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.
In the lung, RELM-alpha is induced by hypoxia and was renamed as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 (10 micromol/L) inhibited HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibited HIMFstimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. Further studies showed that HIMF had angiogenic and vasoconstrictive properties. HIMF increased pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance. Further studies suggest that HIMF regulates apoptosis and may participate in lung alveolarization and maturation.

Interleukin-1 ra is a member of the interleukin 1 cytokine family. This protein inhibits the activities of interleukin 1, alpha (IL1A) and interleukin 1, beta (IL1B), and modulates a variety of interleukin 1 related immune and inflammatory responses. This gene and five other closely related cytokine genes form a gene cluster spanning approximately 400 kb on chromosome 2. A polymorphism of this gene is reported to be associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gastric cancer. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

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.

CD86 type I membrane protein is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily which is expressed by antigen-presenting cells, and acts as the ligand for two proteins at the cell surface of T cells, CD28 antigen and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4. CD86 binding with CD28 protein is a co-stimulatory signal for initiation of the T-cell. CD86 binding with CTLA-4 negatively regulates T-cell activation and diminishes the immune response.

IL-32 is part of the cytokine family and contains a tyrosine sulfation site, 3 potential N-myristoylation sites, multiple putative phosphorylation sites, and an RGD cell-attachment sequence. IL-32 expression is elevated after the activation of T-cells by mitogens or the activation of NK cells by IL-2. IL-32 induces the production of TNF-a from macrophage cells. IL-32 pro-inflammatory pathway is activated in response to influenza A virus infection. Dysregulation of IL-32 in myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia modulates apoptosis and impairs NK function.
Induction of TNF, IL-1beta, and IL-6 by IL-32 is intervened by p38-MAPK. IL-32 induced monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is mediated through nonapoptotic, caspase-3-dependent mechanisms. IL32 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. IL-32 is involved in activation-induced cell death in T cells, through its intracellular actions. IL-32 is a cell-associated proinflammatory cytokine, which is particularly stimulated by mycobacteria through a caspase-1- and IL-18-dependent production of IFNgamma.
IL-32 is associated with TNF-a, IL-1beta, and IL-18. IL32 is involved in human rheumatoid arthritis and is a novel target in autoimmune diseases.

IL-1 alpha is produced by activated macrophages, stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1A proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin and collagenase from synovial cells.

Bone Morphogenetic protein-8b (BMP8B) belongs to a family of secreted signaling molecules which can induce ectopic bone growth. BMP8B is known for having a possible bone inductive activity as it is related to BMP5 and BMP7. BMP8B is the osteoinductive factor accountable for epithelial osteogenesis.

Vaspin (visceral adipose-specific SERPIN), a newly identified adipokine, which is a member of serine protease inhibitor family. Vaspin is also a unique insulin sensitizing adipocytokine in obesity. A recent publication indicates that induction of human vaspin mRNA expression in adipose tissue is regulated in a fat depot-specific manner and could be associated with parameters of obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism.

CTF2P, aka Neuropoietinis a part of the IL-6 family of cytokines. CTF2P is the outcome of a gene duplication event involving cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and it helps to define a subfamily within the IL-6 family that includes CT-1, CLC and CTNF. CTF2P Increases the platelet count associated with splenomegaly and takes part in neuronal precursor development and maturation.

Interleukin-6 Signal Transducer or IL6ST is a receptor, part of the family of class 1 cytokine receptor. IL6ST binds to IL-6 through membrane-anchored or soluble IL-6R starts a connection between another complex of IL6ST and IL-6 , thus forming a homo-dimer and a signal transduction occurs.

Lipopolysaccharide is a potent stimulator of monocytes and macrophages, causing secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and other inflammatory mediators. LITAF is a lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor, which is a DNA-binding protein and can mediate the TNF-alpha expression by direct binding to the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene. The transcription of the LITAF gene is induced by tumor suppressor p53 and has been implicated in the p53-induced apoptotic pathway. Mutations in the LITAF gene cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1C (CMT1C) and may be involved in the carcinogenesis of extramammary Paget''s disease (EMPD).

Interferon Alpha And Beta Receptor, also known IFNAR1, belongs to the class II cytokine receptor family. IFNAR1 protein forms one of the two chains of a receptor for interferons alpha as well as beta. IFNAR1 binds and activates the receptor which stimulates Janus protein kinases, which in turn phosphorylate some proteins, including STAT1 & STAT2. Furthermore, IFNAR1 also functions as an antiviral factor.