Submitted by:

Lovepreet Kaur
UID 14BBT1054

The immune system recognizes the presence of

pathogens by several proteins that bind to molecules
secreted by the pathogen or carried on their surface.

The cells responsible for these immune responses

include:
a) B-Cells b) T-Cells
c) Macrophages d) Neutrophils
e) Basophils
f) Eosinophils
g) Endothelial cells
h) Mast cells

These cells have distinct roles in the immune system

and communicate with other immune cells by
cytokines, which control proliferation, differentiation
and function of cells of the immune system.

The development of an effective immune response

involves lymphoid cells, inflammatory cells, and
hematopoietic cells.

The complex interactions among these cells are

mediated by a group of proteins collectively designated
cytokines to denote their role in cell-to-cell
communication.

Cytokines / immunocytokines (Greek, cyto =cell &

kinos =movement) are low molecular weight
regulatory proteins or glycoproteins secreted by white
blood cells and various other cells in the body in
response to a number of stimuli.

Cytokines bind to specific receptors

on the membrane of target cells,
triggering
signal-transduction
pathways that ultimately alter
gene expression in the target cells.
The cytokines and their fully
assembled receptors exhibit very
high affinity for each other and
deliver intracellular signals.
The cytokines and their receptors
exhibit very high affinity for each
other, with dissociation constants
ranging from
10 10 to 10 12 M.
Because their affinities are so high,
cytokines can mediate biological
effects
at
picomolar
concentrations.

A particular cytokine may

bind to receptors on the
membrane of the same
cell that secreted it,
exerting autocrine action.

It may bind to receptors

on a target cell in close
proximity to the producer
cell, exerting paracrine
action.

In a few cases, it may

bind to target cells in
distant parts of the body,
exerting endocrine action

Cytokines exhibit
the attributes of:
Pleiotropy,
Redundancy,
Synergy,
Antagonism,
cascade
induction,
which
permit
them to regulate
cellular activity
in a coordinated,
interactive way.

Two or more cytokines that mediate similar functions are said

to be redundant.
Cytokine synergism occurs when the combined effect of two
cytokines on cellular activity.
antagonism that is, the effects of one cytokine inhibit or offset

Interleukins - that act as mediators between leukocytes.

The vast majority of these are produced byT-helper
cells.

Lymphokines- produced by lymphocytes.

Monokines- produced exclusively by monocytes.

Interferons- involved in antiviral responses.

Colony Stimulating Factors- support the growth of cells

blood cell .

Chemokines - mediate chemoattraction (chemotaxis)

between cells.

Cytokines have been classified on the basis of their

biological responses into pro or anti-inflammatory
cytokines, depending on their effects on
immunocytes .

Major cytokines include:

Lymphokines
Interleukins (IL)
Monokines
Interferons (IFN)
colony stimulating factors (CSF)
Tumor Necrosis Factors-Alpha and Beta (TNF)

Lymphokinesare a subset ofcytokinesthat are produced

by a type ofimmune cellknown as alymphocyte.
They are protein mediators typically produced byT cellsto
direct the immune system response by signalling between
its cells.
Lymphokines have many roles, including the attraction of
other immune cells, includingmacrophagesand other
lymphocytes, to an infected site and their subsequent
activation to prepare them to mount an immune response.
Circulating lymphocytes can detect a very small
concentration of lymphokine and then move up the
concentration gradient towards where the immune
response is required.
Lymphokines aidB cellsto produce antibodies.

Amonokineis
a
type
ofcytokineproduced primarily
bymonocytesandmacrophag
es.

Examples
includeinterleukin
1andtumor necrosis factoralpha.

Other monokines include alpha

and
betainterferon,
andcolony stimulating factors.

avarietyof naturally occuringpolypeptidesthat are

thefamilyofcytokineswhichaffectfunctionsofspecificc
ell typesand are found insmallquantities.
They
are
secreted
regulatoryproteinsproduced
bylymphocytes,monocytesand
various
othercelltypesand
are
released
bycellsinresponsetoantigenicand non-antigenicstimuli.
Consist of IL1 to IL37.
IL-1 activates Antigen Presenting Cells and CD4+
lymphocytes; affects the differentiation of the B-Cells and
T-Cells and other immunocompetent cells and takes part
in the regulation of production of other cytokines and GMCSF (Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor).
IL-2 stimulates the proliferation and activation of B-Cells
and T-Cells. IL-4 plays a role in the differentiation of TH2,
in allergic responses, and in the switching of antibody
types.

Interferons play an important role in the first

line of defense against viral infections.
They are part of thenon specific immune
systemand are induced at an early stage in
viral infection before the specific immune
system has had time to respond.
Interferons are made by cells in response to
an appropriate stimulus, and are released into
the surrounding medium; they then bind to
receptors on target cells and induce
transcription ofapproximately 20-30 genes in
the target cells, and this results in an antiviral state in the target cells.

Based on the type of receptor through which they signal,

human interferons have been classified into three major
types.
1. Interferon type I:
All type I IFNs bind to a specific cell surface receptor
complex known as theIFN receptor (IFNAR) that
consists ofIFNAR1andIFNAR2chains. The type I
interferons present in humans areIFN-,IFNandIFN-.
2. Interferon type II:
Binds
toIFNGRthat
consists
ofIFNGR1andIFNGR2chains. In humans this isIFN-.
3. Interferon type III:
Signal through a receptor complex consisting of IL10R2
(also called CRF2-4) andIFNLR1(also called CRF2-12).

Chemokines are a family of smallcytokines,

orSignaling proteinssecreted bycells.
Their name is derived from their ability to induce
directed chemotaxisin nearby responsive cells; they
arechemotactic cytokines.
Proteins are classified as chemokines according to
shared structural characteristics such as small size
(they are all approximately 8-10kilodaltonsin size),
and the presence of fourcysteineresidues in
conserved locations that are key to forming their 3dimensional shape.

Chemokines have been classified into four main

subfamilies:
1.
2.
3.
4.

CXC Chemokines (contain CXL1 to CXL17)

CC Chemokines (contain CCL1 to CCL28)
CX3C Chemokines (contain CX3CL1)
XC Chemokines (contain XCL1 & XCL2)

All of these proteins exert their biological effects by

interacting withG protein-linkedtransmembrane
receptorscalledchemokine receptors, that are
selectively found on the surfaces of their target
cells.

Immunology by Kuby

http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mobile/m.immuno13.htm

http://www.rndsystems.com/research_topic.asp
x?r=14

http://www.ebioscience.com/resources/pathway
s/cytokine-network.htm

http://www.prospecbio.com/Cytokines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine