Interleukin forms

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... 

Figure 38-7. Activation of elF-4E by insulin and formation of the cap binding elF-4F complex. The 4F-cap mRNA complex is depicted as in Figure 38-6. The 4F complex consists of elF-4E (4E), elF-4A, and elF-4G. 4E is inactive when bound by one ofa family of binding proteins (4E-BPs). Insulin and mitogenic factors (eg, IGF-1, PDGF, interleukin-2, and angiotensin II) activate a serine protein kinase in the mTOR pathway, and this results in the phosphorylation of 4E-BP. Phosphorylated 4E-BP dissociates from 4E, and the latter is then able to form the 4F complex and bind to the mRNA cap. These growth peptides also phosphorylate 4E itself by activating a component of the MAP kinase pathway. Phosphorylated 4E binds much more avidly to the cap than does nonphosphorylated 4E.

Human interleukin 2, a 133-residue protein, has been separated into multiple molecular forms by selective immunoaffinity chromatography and chromatofocusing. Most of the heterogeneity has been attributed to variations in glycosylation of the threonine residue in position 3 of the polypep-... 

The production of a female-influencing secretion from the chin gland of male Plethodontid salamander (P. jordani) points to a similar extension of function by the acquisition of female olfactory sensitivity to an intercellular signal protein. Female receptivity is enhanced by a male cytokine-like compound of the interleukin-6 family, in its released form. Rollman et al. (1999) note that pheromonal activity is a previously unrecognised function for cytokines. 

Erythropoiesis is a process that starts with a pluripotent stem cell in the bone marrow that eventually differentiates into an erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E)4 (Fig. 63-1). The development of these cells depends on stimulation from the appropriate growth factors, primarily erythropoietin. Other cytokines involved include granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3). Eventually, the CFU-Es differentiate into reticulocytes and cross from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood. Finally, these reticulocytes mature into erythrocytes after 1 to 2 days in the bloodstream. Throughout this process, the cells gradually accumulate more hemoglobin and lose their nuclei.4... 

Nearly all of the interleukins are soluble molecules (one form of IL-1 is cell associated). They promote their biological response by binding to specific receptors on the surface of target cells. Most interleukins exhibit paracrine activity (i.e. the target cells are in the immediate vicinity of the producer cells), although some display autocrine activity (e.g. IL-2 can stimulate the growth and differentiation of the cells that produce it). Other interleukins display more systematic endocrine effects (e.g. some activities of IL-1). 

Hora et al. [3.19] described the complexity of protein stabilization by the example of recombinant, human Interleukin-2 (rhIL-2). Formulations with amino acids and mannitol/ sucrose are sensitive to mechanical stress e. g. by pumping. Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPcD) provides stability, but increases the sensitivity to oxygen. Polysor-bate 80 forms a mechanically stable product, but results in oxidation. In both cases contamination in the HPcD or traces of H202 in the Polysorbate may have been the starter for the oxidation. Brewster [3.20] reports, that HPcD stabilizes interleukin without forming aggregations and this results in 100 % biopotency. 

Figure 2.2. Role of cytokines in blood-cell development. Abbreviations CFU, colony-forming unit CFU-GEMM, granulocyte-erythroid-monocyte-megakaryocyte CFU CFU-GM, granulocyte-macrophage CFU CFU-M, macrophage CFU CFU-G, granulocyte CFU CFU-Eos, eosinophil CFU IL, Interleukin. See text for details.

Van Damme, J., Rampart, M., Conings, R., Decock, B., Van Osselaaer, N., Willems, J., Billiau, A. (1990). The neutrophil-activating proteins Interleukin 8 and j9-thromboglobulin In vitro and in vivo comparison of NH2-terminally processed forms. Eur. J. Immunol. 20, 2113-18. 

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