The immune system: basis of so much health and disease: 6. cytokines

From Volume 44, Issue 8, September 2017 | Pages 753-761

Authors

Crispian Scully

CBE, DSc, DChD, DMed (HC), Dhc(multi), MD, PhD, PhD (HC), FMedSci, MDS, MRCS, BSc, FDS RCS, FDS RCPS, FFD RCSI, FDS RCSEd, FRCPath, FHEA

Bristol Dental Hospital, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, UK

Articles by Crispian Scully

Eleni A Georgakopoulou

PhD, MD, MSc, DDS

Research Fellow, University of Athens and Dental Practitioner, 4 Fokaias Str, 14232 N Ionia, Greece

Articles by Eleni A Georgakopoulou

Yazan Hassona

BDS, FFD RCSI, PhD

Assistant Professor and Consultant in Oral Medicine and Special Needs Dentistry, The University of Jordan, Amman

Articles by Yazan Hassona

Abstract

Abstract: The immune system is the body's primary defence mechanism against infections, and disturbances in the system can cause disease if the system fails in defence functions (in immunocompromised people), or if the activity is detrimental to the host (as in auto-immune and auto-inflammatory states). A healthy immune system is also essential to normal health of dental and oral tissues. This series presents the basics for the understanding of the immune system; this article covers the cytokines.

Clinical Relevance: Modern dental clinicians need a basic understanding of the immune system as it underlies health and disease.

Article

The immune system employs a wide array of soluble mediators that facilitate communication between immune cells, regulate the inflammatory response, and induce development and maturation of immune cells. Soluble mediators of the immune system are often produced by immune cells, and exert their effects through binding to specific receptors on target cells.

The main soluble mediators of the immune system are cytokines; low molecular weight secreted proteins that have a specific effect on the interactions and communications between cells. Cytokine is a general term, and the nomenclature describing different types of cytokines is sometimes confusing (Table 1).

Cytokines are produced by many cell populations, but the predominant producers are helper T-cells (Th) and macrophages. Some cytokines (eg type 1 interferons [IFN] and tumour necrosis factor [TNF]) are also produced by non-immune cells (ie epithelial cells).

It is common for different cell types to secrete the same cytokine or for a single cytokine to act on several different cell types (pleiotropy) (Figure 1). Cytokines are redundant in their activity, meaning that similar functions can be stimulated by different cytokines (Figure 2). They are often produced in a cascade, as one cytokine stimulates its target cells to make additional cytokines. Cytokines act in a network, and can also act synergistically or antagonistically (Figure 3).

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