IL-23 is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of two subunits: a unique p19 subunit, and a p40 subunit that is shared with IL-12. IL-23 is secreted by activated dendritic cells and macrophages. IL-23 binds to a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of IL12RB1 and IL23R, activates the Jak-Stat signaling cascade, stimulates memory rather than naive T cells and promotes production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IFNγ and IL-17. IL-23 induces autoimmune inflammation and thus may be resp

This gene encodes a member of the carboxylesterase large family. The family members are responsible for the hydrolysis or transesterification of various xenobiotics, such as cocaine and heroin, and endogenous substrates with ester, thioester, or amide bonds. They may participate in fatty acyl and cholesterol ester metabolism, and may play a role in the blood-brain barrier system. This enzyme is the major liver enzyme and functions in liver drug clearance. Mutations of this gene cause carbo

GCN2 belongs to a family of kinases that phosphorylate the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 to downregulate protein synthesis in response to varied cellular stresses.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine- and threonine-specific protein kinases that can be activated by calcium and the second messenger diacylglycerol. PKC family members phosphorylate a wide variety of protein targets and are known to be involved in diverse cellular signaling pathways. PKC family members also serve as major receptors for phorbol esters, a class of tumor promoters. Each member of the PKC family has a specific expression profile and is believed to play a distinct role

Members of the NK-2 family of homeodomain proteins are key regulators of growth and development in several tissues, including brain, heart and pancreas. During neural development, sonic hedgehog (Shh) is known to control cell fate and mitogenesis, which is correlated with Shh dose-dependent expression of several genes, including Nkx-2.1, Nkx-2.2 and Nkx-2.9. Specifically, the Nkx-2.2 protein is responsible for directing ventral neuronal patterning in response to graded Shh signaling. In the

This gene encodes a member of the sialomucin protein family. The encoded protein was originally identified as an important component of glomerular podocytes. Podocytes are highly differentiated epithelial cells with interdigitating foot processes covering the outer aspect of the glomerular basement membrane. Other biological activities of the encoded protein include: binding in a membrane protein complex with Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor to intracellular cytoskeletal elements, playing a r