Inflammation

L-selectin is a member of the selectin family of glycoprotein adhesion and homing receptors that recognize sialyated carbohydrate groups and regulate lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions. It is a type I transmembrane cell adhesion molecule (CAM) and is constitutively expressed on all classes of circulating leukocytes including lymphocytes (excluding memory T-cells), monocytes, and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells.

TNF alpha is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor superfamily. It is involved in the regulation of a wide spectrum of biological processes: cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF alpha has been implicated in a variety of autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis), insulin resistance, septic shock, and tumor metastases related to cancer.

CD14 is a well-characterized cell-activating receptor for lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and peptidoglycan. It is an important modulator for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-dependent signaling and is a component of the multi-protein complex containing also containing MD2 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). CD14 is an important component of the innate immune response preferentially expressed on mature cells of monocyte lineage. The CD14 protein contains eleven leucine-rich repeats (LRRs).

The NALP family consists of cytoplasmic proteins within the larger CATERPILLER protein family. There exist in short forms (such as NALP4) and long forms (NALP1). NALP proteins include the apoptosis regulator apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (APAF1) and mammalian NOD-LRR proteins, and are thought to play a role in the inflammation and reproduction processes.

IL-6 is an immunoregulatory cytokine that functions in inflammation and B-cell maturation. It was originally identified as a B-cell differentiation factor. It is primarily made at sites of acute and chronic inflammation, where it is secreted into serum and induces a transcriptional inflammatory response through the cell surface assembly of interleukin-6 alpha receptor (IL-6R, alpha) and the signaling receptor gp130.

COX2 is an inducible dimeric enzyme belonging to the prostaglandin G/H synthase family that enables cells to respond to growth factors, tumor promoters, and cytokines. Prostaglandins are synthesized through the creation of cyclic endoperoxides from arachidonic acid and COX2 catalyzes the committed step in the biosynthetic pathway.

Also known as OPG, TR1 and OCIF, this gene encodes Osteoprotegerin, a heparin-binding secretory glycoprotein that belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. The TNFR superfamily consists primarily of transmembrane proteins that elicit signal transduction in a variety of cells and are known to mediate diverse biological responses, including cytotoxicity and apoptosis, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was isolated independently by two laboratories in 1997 [1,2].

Macrophage mannose receptor 1 (MRC1), also known as CD206, is a Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR). PRRs are expressed by antigen processing and presentation cells, and are activated upon detection of Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs). PAMPs are molecular sequences shared by large groups of pathogens, which are essential for microbial survival and/or pathogenicity and include cell wall components such as glycoproteins.

The nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor essential for the activation of immune and inflammatory responses. NFkB activity is inhibited when it is associated with IkB proteins in the cell cytoplasm. IkB proteins are phosphorylated by the IkB kinase complex. The IKK serine protein kinase consists of alpha and beta subunits (IKK alpha and IKK beta). These subunits interact with each other and together, are essential for NFkB activation. IKK alpha is expressed in variety of human tissues.

The Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) protein, also known as CD289, belongs to the family of Toll-like receptor (TLR) proteins which play a large role in pathogen recognition and the activation of innate immunity. Scientists using TLR9 antibodies have found that TLRs are highly conserved from Drosophila to humans, with a high degree of structural and functional homology^1,2.