C1q And Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Protein 8 (C1QTNF8)

CTRP8 is expressed predominantly in lung and testis. In addition to forming homotrimers, CTRP8 also forms heteromeric complexes with C1q-related factor (CRF).

CRF is a secreted multimeric protein that forms heteromeric complexes with CTRP1, CTRP9, and CTRP10. Although human CTRRP9A and CTRP9B share 98% amino acid identity, they are encoded by distinct genes and are biochemically distinct. CTRP9A is robustly secreted as a multimeric protein, CTRP9B requires physical association with CTRP9A or adiponectin for its secretion. Combinatorial association between C1q/TNF family members is a possible mechanism to generate an expanded repertoire of functionally distinct ligands with altered function and/or receptor specificity.