title: Cytokine-like factor 1 (CLF1): life after development?
abstract: Cytokine-like factor 1 (CLF1) is a secreted receptor belonging to the interleukin-6 family of cytokines. CLF1 and its physiologic partner, cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC) are secreted as a heterodimer and engage the tripartite signaling complex of ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIFR) and gp130. Ligation of this receptor complex leads to activation of the STAT3 and MAPK pathways and mediates survival pathways in neurons. Mutations in CLF1, CLC, or CNTFR in mice lead to the birth of mice that die on post-natal day 1 because of an inability to nurse. These animals exhibit significant decreases in the number of motor neurons in the facial nucleus and the spinal cord. CLF1 or CLC deficiency is associated with the development of the human cold-induced sweating syndromes. A growing body of research suggests that CLF1 expression may be associated with several post-natal disease processes. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of CLF1 expression and suggest future studies to understand the potentially important role of CLF1 in postnatal life and disease.
authors.affiliation: Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease and the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. kassd2@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C121169:cardiotrophin-like cytokine; C113554:cytokine-like factor-1; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases