Cytokines

Properties of Cytokines Cytokine Receptors Cytokine Antagonists Cytokine Secretion by TH1 and TH2 Subsets Cytokine-Related Diseases Therapeutic Uses of Cytokines and Their Receptors Cytokines in Hematopoiesis

1.Properties of Cytokines

(a) Overview of the induction and function of cytokines. (b) Most cytokines exhibit autocrine and/or paracrine action; fewer exhibit endocrine action.

ELISA assay of a cytokine. (a) The sample containing the cytokine of interest is captured by specific antibody (blue)coated onto wells of a microtiter plate. A second specific antibody (blue), conjugated to an enzyme (E) such as horseradish peroxidase, forms a sandwich with the captured cytokine, immobilizing the enzyme in the microtiter well. A chromogenic substrate (S) is added,and the enzyme generates a color whose intensity is proportional to the amount of cytokine bound to the capture antibody. The optical density of this color produced by the unknown is compared with valueson an appropriately determined standard curve. (b) The standard curve shown here is for human interleukin 12 (IL-12). It is clear that this assay is sufficiently sensitive to detect as little as 1 picogram of IL-12.

1) Cytokines Belong to Four Structural Families

Cytokine attributes of (a) pleiotropy, redundancy,synergy (synergism), antagonism, and (b) cascade induction.