Together, the aforementioned genes we have identified as potential members of the Cd14 network and their functions are supported by the GO categories we also identified, including “response to chemical stimulus,” “immune response,” and “inflammatory response.” Many of these genes have connections to pathways that are correlated with Cd14, such as the MAPK p38 signaling and chemokine signaling pathways. The p38 MAPK pathway is essential in the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, and p38 MAPK may regulate inflammatory gene expression on the post-transcriptional level [56]. Toll-like receptor pathways are involved in apoptosis, inflammatory responses and T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation; TLR4, specifically, works along with CD14 to recognize lipopolysaccharides [57]. Activation of TCR results in the synthesis of cytokines, similar to CD14’s ability to induce the NF-κB cascade to produce cytokines [58]. Transforming growth factor beta, or TGF-β is a cytokine secreted by macrophages that likely inhibits the release of cytokines by inhibiting translation of TNF-α mRNA [59]. Adipogenesis, which is the process in which preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes, may also involve Cd14. Acute inflammation of adipose tissue is important in tissue
