title: A family of tissue-specific resistin-like molecules.
abstract: We have identified a family of resistin-like molecules (RELMs) in rodents and humans. Resistin is a hormone produced by fat cells. RELMalpha is a secreted protein that has a restricted tissue distribution with highest levels in adipose tissue. Another family member, RELMbeta, is a secreted protein expressed only in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the colon, in both mouse and human. RELMbeta gene expression is highest in proliferative epithelial cells and is markedly increased in tumors, suggesting a role in intestinal proliferation. Resistin and the RELMs share a cysteine composition and other signature features. Thus, the RELMs together with resistin comprise a class of tissue-specific signaling molecules.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Steppan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Enders
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Silberg
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lazar
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011506:Proteins; D051381:Rats; D052243:Resistin; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C499624:RETN protein, human; C486574:RETNLB protein, human; D052243:Resistin; C499623:Retn protein, mouse; C499622:Retn protein, rat; C413576:Retnla protein, mouse; C486575:Retnla protein, rat; C486522:Retnlb protein, mouse; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor