OVERVIEW OF CELLULAR IMMUNE FUNCTION IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

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OVERVIEW OF CELLULAR IMMUNE FUNCTION IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Journal of Cytokine Biology focuses on areas such as interleukins, chemokines, monokines, interferons and lymphokines. Articles on immune response based on cytokines, balance between innate and cell based immune responses, receptor binding studies involving cytokines, techniques used for studying cytokine function. Detection of cytokine production, gene expression of cytokines, protein therapeutics based on cytokine mechanisms, application of transgenesis in the study of cytokines are also welcome.

Lymphokines

The term lymphokine was originally used to denote products of lymphocytes,1 but Cohen et al.2 coined the word cytokine to emphasize the point that these factors need not be made by one specific cell source. This was an important insight, because many immunologically relevant cytokines are made by nonlymphoid cells. Later, the term interleukin was introduced to emphasize the importance of these factors in communication between leukocytes.3 Although this designation has remained in use, it is similarly inaccurate. Many of the polypeptides designated interleukins can also be made by or act on nonhematopoietic cells. Cytokines can be defined operationally as polypeptides secreted by leukocytes and other cells that act principally on hematopoietic cells, and whose effects

Effect of Lymphokines

The details of lymphokine effects on rickettsial infection are known mostly for the interferons and tumour necrosis factor. Cytokines can modify the interactions between rickettsiae and their host cells in several ways: inhibition of rickettsial growth; direct cell killing of rickettsiae; cytotoxic effects on infected host cells; and the inhibition of initial rickettsial infection. All these effects are found in model systems involving TG and SFG rickettsiae. As a rule, however, infection with each examined species and even strains of Rickettsia causes unique patterns of responses to lymphokines, therefore the observations obtained with a particular Rickettsia should not be regarded as a general rule.

 

Best Regards:
Veronica Thompson

Journal Manager
Journal of Cytokine Biology
Email:  cytokinebiol@oajoirnal.org