BMPs (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) belong to the TGF-beta superfamily of structurally related signaling proteins. BMP-2 is a potent osteoinductive cytokine, capable of inducing bone and cartilage formation in association with osteoconductive carriers such as collagen and synthetic hydroxyapatite.…

PEDF is a noninhibitory serpin with neurotrophic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-tumorigenic properties. It is a 50 kDa glycoprotein produced and secreted in many tissues throughout the body. A major component of the anti-angiogenic action of PEDF is the induction of apoptosis in proliferating…

MCP-2 and MCP-3 are two monocyte chemotactic proteins produced by human MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Both MCP-2 and MCP-3 are members of the CC family of chemokines and share 62% and 71% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with MCP-1. MCP-3 also shares 58% amino acid identity with MCP-2.

SDF-1α and SDF-1β, members of the chemokine α subfamily that lack the ELR domain, were initially identified using the signal sequence trap cloning strategy from a mouse bone-marrow stromal cell line. These proteins were subs

Interleukin 6 is a multi functional protein that plays important roles in host defense, acute phase reactions, immune responses, and hematopoiesis. IL-6 is expressed by a variety of normal and transformed cells including T cells, B cells, monocytes/macrophages, fibroblasts, hepatocytes,…

GCSF is a pleiotropic cytokine best known for its specific effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and activation of hematopoietic cells of the neutrophilic granulocyte lineage. It is produced mainly by monocytes and macrophages upon activation by endotoxin, TNFα and IFNγ. Other…

BAFF Receptor (BAFF-R), a member of the TNFR superfamily, is highly expressed in spleen, lymph node, and resting B cells and to some extent in activated B cells, resting CD4+ cells and peripheral blood leukocytes. BAFF-R is a type III transmembrane protein that binds with high specificity to BAFF…

GM-CSF was initially characterized as a growth factor that can support the in vitro colony formation of granulocyte-macrophage progenitors. It is produced by a number of different cell types (including activated T cells, B cells, macrophages, mast cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts) in…

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), also called cachectin, is produced by neutrophils, activated lymphocytes, macrophages, NK cells, LAK cells, astrocytes endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and some transformed cells. TNF-α occurs as a secreted, soluble form and as a…

IL-21 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by CD4+ T cells in response to antigenic stimulation. Its action generally enhances antigen-specific responses of immune cells. The biological effects of IL-21 include induction of differentiation of T-cells-stimulated B-cells into plasma cells and memory…

Serum amyloid A proteins (SAA) represents a family of apolipoproteins that circulates in association with high-density lipoproteins (HDL). The level of apo-SAA, normally 1-5 µg/ml in plasma, increases 500-1000 fold within 24 hours of an inflammatory st

The clinical use of the potent antitumor activity of TNF-αhas been limited by the proinflammatory side effects including fever, dose-limiting hypotension, hepatotoxicity, intravascularthrombosis, and hemorrhage. Designing clinically applicable TNF-αmutants with low systemic toxicity has…