Development cytokine functions

O Garra, A. (1998) Cytokines induce the development of functionally heterogeneous T helper cell subsets. Immunity 8, 275-283. 

Specific lipid messengers are cleaved from reservoir phospholipids by phospholipases upon activation by various stimuli. These stimuli include neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, membrane depolarization, ion channel activation and others. Lipid messengers regulate and interact with multiple other signaling cascades, contributing to the development, differentiation, function, protection and repair of the cells of the nervous system. 

The number of known cytokines, as well as the diversity of biological functions, have led to a very complex and often confusing picture of the immunologic and nonimmunologic processes involved. The role of cytokiaes in local or systemic homeostatic mechanisms related to physiological functions may be utilized therapeutically for treatment of cancer and a variety of other diseases (2). Pharmaceutical research and development efforts surrounding lL-1 are typical examples of the cytokine inhibition approach to chronic inflammation research (2). 

Cytokines and Immunophilins. A large number of inflammatory mediators and related proteins including the cytokines, colony stimulating factors (CSFs), interferons (IFNs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs), growth factors (see Growth regulators), neurotrophic factors, and immunophilins are found in the mammalian CNS and appear to play a significant role in CNS function both in development and in aspects of brain homeostasis (40—43). 

Cellular cytokines (interferons, G-CSF) and immune response modifiers originally produced from human cells, most often leukocytes, have now been replaced with recombinant products with well-defined structure/function. Futuristic advances in experimental hematology portend development of human blood cells produced from the hemopoetic stem cells. Yet for the foreseeable future, homologous blood donated by healthy, altruistic voluntary blood donors remains the principal source of safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products for transfusion therapy. 

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