Receptor cytokine

Receptor superfamily name Alternative name Main members 

The haematopoietic receptor superfamily The cytokine receptor superfamily Receptors for IL-2-IL-7, IL-9, IL-12, G-CSF, GM-CSF, EPO, LIF, CNTF, GH 

The interferon receptor superfamily Cytokine receptor type II family Receptors for IFN-cx, -P, -y, IL-10 

The seven transmembrane spanning receptor superfamily — Receptors for various chemokines, including IL-8 and MIP 

The complement control protein superfamily - IL-2 receptor (a-chain) 

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Glucocorticoids have been shown to inhibit gene transcription of other proteins involved in the inflammatory process, including the key inflammation mediators called cytokines (IL-1, IL3—6, IL8, GM-CSF, TNFa) (10,58,63—65). Steroids have been also shown to suppress the formation of cytokine receptors (10) dexamethasone, in particular, downregulates gene transcription of angiotensin II type 2 receptors (66). 

The class II cytokine receptor family includes receptors for interferon a/P (lEN a/P) and y (lENy) and IL-10. lEN-y immunoreactivity has been found in neurons in the hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, mammilary nuclei, and dorsal tegmentum. Astrocytes and microglia in vitro can be stimulated to express class II histocompatibiHty complex (MHC-II) antigens by lEN-y, which may be involved in the presentation of antigen to T-ceUs by astrocytes. Thus lEN-y may be critical in CNS-immune function and dysfunction especially in regard to neuronal and gHal apoptotic processes. 

The class III cytokine receptor family includes two TNE receptors, the low affinity NGE receptor and 7-ceU surface recognition sites that appear to play a role in proliferation, apoptosis, and immunodeficiency. TNE-a (- 17, 000 protein) is produced by astrocytes and microglia and can induce fever, induce slow-wave sleep, reduce feeding, stimulate prostaglandin synthesis, stimulate corticotrophin-releasing factor and prolactin secretion, and reduce thyroid hormone secretion. TNE-a stimulates IL-1 release, is cytotoxic to oligodendrocytes, and reduces myelination this has been impHcated in multiple sclerosis and encephalomyelitis. Astrocyte TNE-a receptors mediate effects on IL-6 expression and augment astrocytic expression of MHC in response to other stimulants such as lEN-y. 

Cytokine receptors are a group of structurally related receptors, which couple to the JAK-STAT pathway. Cytokine receptors function as homodimers or heterooligomers. They are divided into two main subclasses, class I, which contains receptors for a variety of hematopoietic growth factors and interleukins and class II, which contains receptors for interferons and interleukins 10, 20/24 and 22. 

Besides the cytokine receptors that lack intrinsic kinase activity but have associated JAK kinases, STAT proteins can be activated by a variety of G-protein coupled receptors and growth factor receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (for example EGF, PDGF, CSF-1, and angiotensin receptor). Increasing evidence suggests a critical role for STAT family members in oncogenesis and aberrant cell proliferation. Constitutively activated STATs have been found in many transformed cell lines and a wide variety of human tumor entities. Numerous non-receptor tyrosine kinases and viral oncoproteins, such as v-Src, v-Abl, v-Sis, and v-Eyk, have been identified to induce DNA-binding activity of STAT proteins. 

Cytokine receptors that couple to the JAK-STAT Pathway decode the signaling though hematopoietic cytokines (erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, colony-stimulating factors), prolactin, growth hormone, the a-, (3- and y- interferons, and a number of immunomodulatory interleukins [3], They form homodimetic or heterodimeric receptor complexes, which after ligandbinding recruit and activate isotypes of Janus kinases (JAKs). Activated JAKs in turn... 

Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone that regulates the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of erythroid cells. The EPO receptor is a member of the class 1 cytokine receptor superfamily. The crystal structure of an EPO-mimetic peptide and the extracellular portion of the... 

The in vivo manipulation of specific type 2 cytokines using anticytokine monoclonal antibodies, or mouse strains with targeted deletions in cytokine and/or cytokine receptor genes, has proved a fruitful approach in identifying the importance of individual cytokines and the responses that they control in contributing to host resistance. These studies have identified important roles for IL-4, IL-9 and IL-13 in host protection against nematode infection, though the relative importance of each cytokine appears to be nematode-species dependent. 

Detection of cytokine mRNA and cytokine receptor mRNA allowed identification of the full range of sources and target cells of individual cytokines. 

Table 8.3 The cytokine receptor superfamilies. Refer to text for further details and to Table 8.1 for explanation of cytokine abbreviations...

Recombinant DNA technology has also facilitated detailed study of cytokine receptors. Based upon amino acid sequence homology, receptors are usually classified as belonging to one of six known superfamilies (Table 8.3). Individual members of any one superfamily characteristically display 20-50 per cent homology. Conserved amino acids normally occur in discrete bands or clusters, which usually correspond to a discrete domain in the receptor. Most receptors exhibit multiple domains. In some cases a single receptor may contain domains characteristic of two or more superfamilies. For example, the IL-6 receptor contains domains characteristic of both the haematopoietic and immunoglobulin superfamilies, making it a member of both. 

Some cytokine receptors are composed of a single transmembrane polypeptide (e.g. receptors for IL-8, -9 and -10). Many contain two polypeptide components (including the IL-3, -4, and -5 receptors), and a few contain three or more polypeptide components (e.g. the IL-2 receptor contains three polypeptide chains). In some instances a single cytokine may be capable of initiating signal transduction by binding two or more distinct receptors (e.g. IL-1 has two distinct receptors (types I and II), both of which are transmembrane glycoproteins). 

Figure 8.1 Cytokine receptors usually display a unique cytokine ( ligand )-binding domain, but they share additional receptor components that are normally responsible for signal transduction. This explains the molecular basis of pleiotropy. IL-6, IL-11 and LIF receptors, for example, are all composed of a distinct ligand-specific binding domain and a separate subunit (gp 130). gp 130 is responsible for initiating signal transduction and is identical in all three receptors. This is depicted schematically above...

Some cytokine receptors can directly initiate signal transduction upon binding of ligand. In other cases additional elements are involved. For many receptors, the exact intracellular events triggered upon ligand binding remain to be elucidated. However, the molecular details of signal transduction pathways for others (e.g. the interferons) are now understood... 

Studies have actually revealed two type I interferon receptor polypeptides. Sequence data from cloning studies place both in the class II cytokine receptor family. Both are transmembrane N-linked glycoproteins. Studies using isolated forms of each show that one polypeptide (called the a/p receptor) is capable of binding all type I interferons. The other one (the ap receptor) is specific for IFN-a-B (a specific member of the IFN-a family). Both receptors are present on most cell types. 

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