RELM-alpha belongs to a unique family of tissue-specific cytokines termed FIZZ (found in inflammatory zone) and RELM. The three known members of this family; Resistin, RELM-alpha and RELM-beta are 85-94 amino acid secreted proteins sharing a conserved C-terminal domain characterized by 10 cysteine residues with a unique spacing motif of C-X11-C-X8-C-X-C-X3-C-X10-C-X-C-X-C-X9-C-C. RELM-alpha and Resistin are secreted exclusively by adipocytes while RELM-beta is expressed in the epithelium of the colon and small bowel. The physiological role and molecular targets of RELM-alpha are still unknown. Murine RELM-alpha is a 10.0 kDa monomeric protein containing 88 amino acid residues.
