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Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) comprise a family of at least eighteen structurally realted proteins that are involved in a multitude of physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cell growth, differentation, angiogenesis, wound healing and tumorgenesis. The biological activities of the FGFs are mediated by a family if type I transmembrane tyrosine kinases which undergo dimerization and autophosphorylation after ligand binding. Four distinct genes encoding closely related FGF receptors, FGFR-1to -4 are known. Multiple forms of FGFR-1 to -3 are generated by alternative splicing of the mRNAs. A frequent splicing event involving FGFR-1 and -2 results in receptors containing all three Ig domains, referred to as the alpha isoform, or only IgII and IgIII, referred to as the ? isoform. Only the alpha isoform has been identified for FGFR-3 and FGFR-4. Additional splicing events for FGFR-1 to -3, involving the C-terminal half of the IgIII domain encoded by two mutually exclusive alternative exons, generate FGF receptors with alternative IgIII domains (IIIb and IIIc). A IIIa isoform which is a secreted FGF binding protein containing only the N-terminal half of the IgIII domain plus some intron sequences has also been reported for FGFR-1. Mutations in FGFR-1 to -3 have been found in patients with birth defects involving craniosynostosis.

NGF-beta has nerve growth stimulating activity and the complex is involved in the regulation of growth and the differentiation of sympathetic and certain sensory neurons. Mutations in this gene have been associated with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy, type 5 (HSAN5), and dysregulation of this gene's expression is associated with allergic rhinitis.

Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptor (CNTFR) is a member of the type I cytokine receptor family and binds to CNTF. The alpha subunit provides the receptor specificity. Sole nucleotide polymorphisms in CNTFR has been associated with variations in muscle strength, in addition to early onset of eating disorders.

Transforming growth factor betas (TGF Betas) mediate many cell-cell interactions that occur during embryonic development. Three TGF Betas have been identified in mammals. TGF Beta 1, TGF Beta 2 and TGF Beta 3 are each synthesized as precursor proteins that are very similar in that each is cleaved to yield a 112 amino acid polypeptide that remains associated with the latent portion of the molecule.

TNFR binds specifically to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and blocks its interaction with cell surface TNF receptors. TNF is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. It plays an important role in the inflammatory processes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and ankylosing spondylitis and the resulting joint pathology. In addition, TNF plays a role in the inflammatory process of plaque psoriasis. Elevated levels of TNF are found in involved tissues and fluids of patients with RA, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and plaque psoriasis. Two distinct receptors for TNF (TNFRs), a 55 kilodalton protein (p55) and a 75 kilodalton protein (p75), exist naturally as monomeric molecules on cell surfaces and in soluble forms. Biological activity of TNF is dependent upon binding to either cell surface TNFR. Recombinant Human TNFR is a dimeric soluble form of the p75 TNF receptor that can bind to two TNF molecules.
It inhibits the activity of TNF in vitro and has been shown to affect several animal models of inflammation, including murine collagen-induced arthritis. TNFR inhibits binding of both TNF? and TNF? (lymphotoxin alpha [LT?]) to cell surface TNFRs, rendering TNF biologically inactive. Cells expressing transmembrane TNF that bind to TNFR are not lysed in vitro in the presence or absence of complement.
TNFR can also modulate biological responses that are induced or regulated by TNF, including expression of adhesion molecules responsible for leukocyte migration (i.e., E-selectin and to a lesser extent intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1]), serum levels of cytokines (e.g., IL-6), and serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3 or stromelysin).

Decorin (DCN) is a small cellular or pericellular matrix proteoglycan which is closely related in structure to biglycan protein. Decorin is a secreted protein which binds to collagen and fibronectin in extracellular matrix. Decorin appears in different glycoforms, substituted with chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate consistent with the original tissue. DCN contains one attached glycosaminoglycan chain. Decorin influences the rate of fibril formation. Decorin is capable of suppressing the growth of various tumor cell lines. DCN gene defects cause corneal dystrophy. The DCN gene is a candidate gene for Marfan syndrome.

CRYGD is a member of the beta/gamma-crystallin family. Crystallins are the principal structural components of the vertebrate eye lens. The mammalian lens crystallins are divided into alpha, beta, and gamma families. Gamma-crystallins are involved in cataract formation. Defects in the CRYGD gene are responsible for cataract autosomal dominant (ADC), cataract congenital non-nuclear polymorphic autosomal dominant (CCP), cataract congenital cerulean type 3 (CCA3) and cataract crystalline aculeiform (CACA).

GFP is an intermediate filament. GFP and vimentin are linked to the same filament network; they are localized in the same filaments.
mRNAs encoding the glial intermediate filament protein are spatially dispersed in the glial cell cytoplasm close to the location of the glial filaments.

CD30 Ligand (TNFSF8) is a cytokine which is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. The TNFSF8 cytokine is a ligand for TNFRSF8/CD30, which is a cell surface antigen and a marker for Hodgkin lymphoma and related hematologic malignancies. The employment of the TNFSF8 cytokine expressed on B cell surface has an inhibitory role in modulating Ig class switch. TNFSF8 enhances cell proliferation of some lymphoma cell lines, while inducing cell death and reducing cell proliferation of other lymphoma cell lines. The pleiotropic biological activities of the TNFSF8 cytokine on different CD30+ lymphoma cell lines has a pathophysiologic role in Hodgkin's and some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

TNFR1 belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. TNFR1 is a receptor for TNFSF2/TNF-alpha and homotrimeric TNFSF1/lymphotoxin-alpha.
There are 2 types of soluble TNF receptors: sTNFR-I and sTNFR-II, which act to neutralize the biological activities of TNF alpha and TNF beta. The levels of these soluble receptors seem to increase as a result of shedding of the extracellular domains of the membrane bound receptors. TNF-a, TNFR1 and TNFR2 have roles in cellular differentiation. TNFR1 and TNFR2 function in cell type-specific renal injury.
TNFR1 is capable of signaling both cell survival and apoptosis. TNFR1-induced apoptosis requires 2 sequential signaling complexes. TNFR1 is capable of activating NF-kappaB, mediate apoptosis, and function as a regulator of inflammation. Oxidative stress promotes TNFR1 and TNFR2 self-interaction, ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling. TNFR1 contributes to the induction of non-cytocidal TNF effects including anti-viral state and activation of the acid sphingomyelinase. Human TNFR1 has a major region which controls cell surface expression. High levels of soluble TNF receptors are found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women.
Germline mutations of the extracellular domains of TNFR1 are linked to the autosomal dominant periodic fever syndrome. The impaired receptor clearance is believed to be a mechanism of the disease. Familial hibernian fever (FHF) is caused by defects in TNFRSF1A gene.

TRAIL Receptor-1 (DR4) and TRAIL Receptor-2(DR5) are members of the TNFR superfamily of transmembrane proteins and contain a cytoplasmic "death domain", which is capable of activating the cell's apoptotic machinery. These receptors are activated by binding to either membrane anchored or soluble TRAIL/Apo2L.

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.

Lymphotoxin alpha, a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, is a cytokine produced by lymphocytes. LTA is highly inducible, secreted, and exists as homotrimeric molecule. LTA forms heterotrimers with lymphotoxin-beta which anchors lymphotoxin-alpha to the cell surface. LTA mediates a large variety of inflammatory, immunostimulatory, and antiviral responses. LTA is also involved in the formation of secondary lymphoid organs during development and plays a role in apoptosis.

TGF-beta receptor-associated protein 1 also known as TGFBRAP1 takes part in the TGF-beta/activin signaling pathway. TGFBRAP1 is related with inactive heteromeric TGF-beta and activin receptor complexes, mainly through the type II receptor, and is released upon activation of signaling. TGFBRAP1recruits SMAD4 to the vicinity of the receptor complex and smoothes the progress of its interaction with receptor-regulated Smads, such as SMAD2.

NTRK2 plays a role in the growth and the development of the central and the peripheral nervous systems using the regulation of neuron proliferation, migration, survival, differentiation, and synapse production. NTRK2 is a receptor for B-DNF and NT4. NTRK2 binds to neurotrophin-3 which regulates neuron survival through NTRK2. NTRK-2 activates numerous effectors such as SHC-1, SH2B-1, PLCG-1 and SH2B-2 that control overlapping signaling cascades.

TNFRSF14, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is a type I transmembrane protein. TNFRSF14 is expressed in peripheral blood T cells, B cells, monocytes and in various tissues enriched in lymphoid cells. TNFRSF14 operates as a co-stimulatory factor for the activation of lymphoid cells and as a deterrent to infection by herpesvirus. Additionally, TNFRSF14 encourages the proliferation of T cells, and triggers apoptosis of various tumor cells.

The term ‘PDGF’ refers to a family of disulphide bond-linked dimeric isoforms that act as autocrine and paracrine growth factors and are produced by a variety of cell types other than platelets.They act as potent mitogens for almost all mesenchymally-derived cells. Aberrant expression is involved in certain cancers, fibroproliferative disorders and atherosclerosis. The protein also contributes to wound healing and neural regeneration. There are four members of the PDGF family – PDGF A, PDGF B, PDGF C and PDGF D. Two distinct types of PDGF-A exist – a short form that is soluble and a long form that is retained by the extracellular matrix.

Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factors are cytokines that act in hematopoiesis by controlling the production, differentiation, and function of 2 related white cell populations of the blood, the granulocytes and the monocytes-macrophages. CSF-1 induces cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. It plays a role in immunological defenses, bone metabolism, lipoproteins clearance, fertility and pregnancy.

Pro-Epidermal Growth Factor Isoform 1 or EGF, is a globular peptide (77aa residues) which includes three intra molecular disulfide bonds. This protein acts as a growth factor that mediates the growth and proliferation of different epithelial & epidermal cells. Among other processes that EGF is part of are inhibition of gastric secretion and wound healing. EGF is a ligand for class I tyrosine kinase receptor (c-erbB).

Acidic fibroblast growth factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mitogen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro, thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis.
Three alternatively spliced variants encoding different isoforms have been described.
The hep-binding growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution and concentration of these 2 growth factors.

NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex assembly factor 4 (NDUFAF4) is involved in the compilation of mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex (complex I). In addition, NDUFAF4 is involved in cell proliferation and survival of hormone-dependent tumor cells. NDUFAF4 may also be a regulator of breast tumor cell invasion. NDUFAF4 gene mutations cause the mitochondrial complex I deficiency.

TNF-b is a potent multifunctional cytokine produced mainly by activated T and B lymphocytes. The protein has been shown to have a specific potent cytotoxic activity on tumor cells and a variety of other target cells as well as being a mediator of inflammation and immune function.

TGFB-Induced Factor Homeobox 2-Like Y-Linked (TGIF2LY) is a part of the TALE/TGIF homeobox family of transcription factors. TGIF2LY is located in the male specific region of chromosome Y, in a block of sequence which is the outcome of a large X-to-Y transposition. TGIF2LY act as a regulator of TGIF2LX due to the fact that the C-terminus of TGIF2LY is different from that of its chromosome X homolog (TGIF2LX). TGIF2LY has also a transcription role in testis.

CD70 also known as TNFSF7 is a cytokine which binds to CD27. TNFSF7 takes part in T-cell activation as well as induces the proliferation of costimulated T-cells. Moreover, TNFSF7 enhances the generation of cytolytic T-cells. Among the diseases which are associated with TNFSF7: Include acute myocarditis & Myocarditis.