| Type: | Family | Name: | Secretoglobin |
| Description: | Uteroglobin (or blastokinin) is a mammalian steroid-inducible secreted protein originally isolated from the uterus of rabbits during early pregnancy. The mucosal epithelia of several organs that communicate with the external environment express uteroglobin. Its tissue-specific expression is regulated by steroid hormones, and is augmented in the uterus by non-steroidal prolactin. Uteroglobin may be a multi-functional protein with anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory properties, acting to inhibit phospholipase A2 activity, and binding to (and possibly sequestering) several hydrophobic ligands such as progesterone, retinols, polychlorinated biphenyls, phospholipids and prostaglandins. In addition, uteroglobin has anti-chemotactic, anti-allergic, anti-tumourigenic and embryo growth-stimulatory properties. Uteroglobin may have a homeostatic role against oxidative damage, inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer [, , , ]. Uteroglobin consists of a disulphide-linked dimer of two identical polypeptides, each polypeptide being composed of four helices. It is a member of the secretoglobin superfamily.Members of this family include:Uteroglobin, a mammalian, steroid-inducible, secreted anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory protein [].Mammaglobin, expressed in ovarian cancer cells [].Lipophilin B, which exists as a complex with mammary-specific mammaglobin A [].Clara cell 17 kDa protein, which inhibits phospholipase A2 and papain, and also binds to progesterone []. Allergen Fel d 1 (Felis silvestris catus(Cat) allergen 1) chains 1 and 2, a tetrameric glycoprotein formed by two heterodimers that elicit IgE responses in people with allergy to cats [].Secretoglobin proteins have a four-helical structure, and in the case of uteroglobin, form homodimers, whereas allergen Fel d 1 forms a tetramer of two heterodimers (chains 1 and 2). | Short Name: | Secretoglobin |
