Immunology

The CD (Cluster of Differentiation) nomenclature was established in 1982 at the First International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens. It was intended for the classification of leukocytes according to the specific epitopes found at the cell surface, and at this inaugural meeting 139 monoclonal antibodies were evaluated.

RANKL is the ligand for the receptor activator of NFkB (RANK) that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily. RANK overexpression induces the NFkB and c-Jun-terminal kinase (JNK) downstream pathways. This pathway has been studied in detail in the bone remodeling system with regards to osteoclast activity and induction.

NFkB-activating kinase (NAK) is serine/threonine protein kinase that is a member of the IkB kinase (IKK) family and plays a key role in cellular inflammatory responses to foreign stimuli and agents. Fitzgerald, et al.

IKK beta, also known as IKK2, activates the NFkB complex by phosphorylating the NFkB inhibitor, IkBa. Several transcript variants, some protein-coding and some not, have been found for IKKB. The Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-kB) family of transcription factors regulates the expression of a wide range of genes critical for immune and inflammatory responses, cell survival, immune development, and cell proliferation (1). NF-kB was firstly identified by Dr.

Nuclear Mitotic Apparatus protein (NuMA) is a cell cycle-related protein that acts as an organizer of the mitotic spindle during mitosis. It may be involved in coordinating the alignment of the mitotic spindle to the cellular polarity axis, which is a prerequisite for asymmetric cell division. NuMA is also a prominent component of interphase cell nuclear matrix; however its role during interphase is largely unknown.

Viperin (Virus Inhibitory Protein, Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated, Interferon-inducible) inhibits the replication of a broad spectrum of viruses by several diverse mechanisms. The protein was first identified in 2001, when it was found to be the product of an IFN gamma-inducible gene (1).

ATG5, or Autophagy Related 5, is a protein crucial for autophagy. Autophagy is a mechanism in which dysfunctional or pathogenic cells or cellular components are degraded and sometimes recycled. This process happens when ATG5 conjugates with another protein and associates with a cup shaped isolation membrane.

CCR2, also known as CD192 (cluster of differentiation 192), is a chemokine receptor and is expressed by monocytes, activated T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. This protein is encoded by CCR2 gene in humans. CCR2 gene encodes two protein isoforms of a receptor for chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1), MCP3 and MCP4.

Beta Actin is one isoform of a multifamily of highly conserved proteins that regulate cell motility, structure, and integrity. The ubiquitous expression of beta-actin in all eukaryotic cells makes it both a historical and heavily-used internal quantitative control for protein comparative assays, as can be seen in the scientific literature and publication records.

MMP2 is an extracellular matrix degradative peptidase enzyme that belongs to the large family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which each have different substrate specificities. Aberrant or derailed expression of various MMPs through loss of negative checks is strongly associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, as compared to tightly controlled physiological processes such as tissue remodeling, rebuilding, and embryonic development.