The protein encoded by this gene is similar to insulin in function and structure and is a member of a family of proteins involved in mediating growth and development. The encoded protein is processed from a precursor, bound by a specific receptor, and secreted. Defects in this gene are a cause of insulin-like growth factor I deficiency. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.[provided by RefSeq, Mar 2009]

This gene encodes a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family which is a ligand for osteoprotegerin and functions as a key factor for osteoclast differentiation and activation. This protein was shown to be a dentritic cell survival factor and is involved in the regulation of T cell-dependent immune response. T cell activation was reported to induce expression of this gene and lead to an increase of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. This protein was shown to activate antiapo

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family. This protein preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed and tumor cells, but does not appear to kill normal cells although it is expressed at a significant level in most normal tissues. This protein binds to several members of TNF receptor superfamily including TNFRSF10A/TRAILR1, TNFRSF10B/TRAILR2, TNFRSF10C/TRAILR3, TNFRSF10D/TRAILR4, and possibly also to TNFRSF11B/OPG. The acti

IL18 binding protein binds to IL18, prevents the binding of IL18 to its receptor, and thus inhibits IL18 induced IFN gamma production. It is constitutively expressed and secreted in mononuclear cells and can be enhanced by IFN gamma. An elevated level of this protein is detected in the intestinal tissues of patients with Crohn disease. Four alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been reported.

Cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells share the remarkable ability to recognize, bind, and lyse specific target cells. They are thought to protect their host by lysing cells bearing on their surface 'nonself' antigens, usually peptides or proteins resulting from infection by intracellular pathogens. The protein described here is a T cell- and natural killer cell-specific serine protease that may function as a common component necessary for lysis of target cells by cyt

The mammalian type I Inteferons (IFN1) are produced in response to viral infection and other inducers. They are divided into alpha and beta subtypes leukocytes and fibroblasts reactivity. The human IFN alphas are encoded by a family of at least 15 different genes, while IFN beta is the unique member of its subtype. There is approximately 50% amino acid homology between the alpha and beta subtypes. Both IFN subtypes are pleiotropic cytokines and have a similar range of biological activities