Treatment FAQ

cytokines are being investigated for a possible treatment of which disease?

by Dr. Devon Altenwerth Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Cytokine-based therapies have the potential to provide novel treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and many types of infectious disease.

What disease are cytokines being investigated for a possible treatment of?

Jan 01, 2019 · Cytokine therapy to activate the immune system of cancer patients has been an important treatment modality and continues to be a key contributor to current clinical cancer research. Interferon alpha (IFNα) is approved for adjuvant treatment of completely resected high-risk melanoma patients and several refractory malignancies.

What are cytokines and why do we need them?

Cytokine therapy to activate the immune system of cancer patients has been an important treatment modality and continues to be a key contributor to current clinical cancer research. Interferon alpha (IFNα) is approved for adjuvant treatment of completely resected high-risk melanoma patients and several refractory malignancies.

What is cytokine therapy for cancer?

Cytokine-targeting therapies developed on the basis of these discoveries have dramatically changed the treatment options for patients with RA, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other disorders 4–6. Clearly, however, not all patients respond adequately to these therapies, complete remission is not as common as one would hope, and ‘cure’ remains an elusive goal.

Why are cytokines being investigated as a possible treatment for AIDS?

Cytokine therapy has proven to be a novel therapeutic approach in treating patients with advanced malignancies. The purpose of this type of therapy is to manipulate the immune response in such a way as to generate the appropriate immune effector cells to eradicate solid tumors.

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Which autoimmune disease is associated with an inflammatory response that can damage the heart?

Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, sarcoidosis and others can also cause myocarditis because the immune system can attack any organ in the body, including the heart, causing inflammation. Drugs or other environmental or toxic exposures can lead to myocarditis as well.

Which autoimmune disease is associated with an inflammatory response that can damage the heart muscle and valves group of answer choices?

About a third of people with SLE develop kidney disease (nephritis). Heart problems may also occur in SLE, including inflammation of the sac-like membrane around the heart (pericarditis) and abnormalities of the heart valves, which control blood flow in the heart.

Does the thymus cleanse the blood from the cardiovascular system?

The thymus cleanses the blood from the cardiovascular system of cellular debris and bacteria. *The spleen cleanses the blood. they act indiscriminately against all pathogens.

What molecule is used by cytotoxic T cells to punch holes in the plasma membranes of potential pathogens?

Cytotoxic CD8 T cells carry out their killing function by releasing two types of preformed cytotoxic protein: the granzymes, which seem able to induce apoptosis in any type of target cell, and the pore-forming protein perforin, which punches holes in the target-cell membrane through which the granzymes can enter.

Is lupus curable or treatable?

Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure. This means that you can manage it with treatment, but it will not go away. Treatment can help improve your symptoms, prevent flares, and prevent other health problems often caused by lupus. Your treatment will depend on your symptoms and needs.Oct 17, 2018

What are inflammatory heart diseases?

Inflammatory heart disease (IHD) is a group of diseases that includes pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis. Although males appear to be more commonly affected than females, IHD can be seen in any age group.Mar 24, 2020

What are the common diseases of the lymphatic system?

The most common diseases of the lymphatic system are enlargement of the lymph nodes (also known as lymphadenopathy), swelling due to lymph node blockage (also known as lymphedema) and cancers involving the lymphatic system, according to Dr.Jan 25, 2022

How does the thymus work in the immune system?

The thymus makes white blood cells called T lymphocytes (also called T cells). These are an important part of the body's immune system, which helps us to fight infection. The thymus produces all our T cells before we become teenagers.

Which of the following is used to treat the inflammation of autoimmune disease?

corticosteroids – to reduce inflammation. They are sometimes used to treat an acute flare of symptoms.

What do T cytotoxic cells do?

Cytotoxic T cells are effector cells that destroy virus-infected cells, tumor cells, and tissue grafts that exist in the cytosol, or contiguous nuclear compartment. The cells are also known as CD8+ T cells as they express the CD8 glycoprotein at their surfaces and are associated with MHC class I molecules.

How is cytotoxic T cell activated?

The T cell receptor (TCR) on both CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells binds to the antigen as it is held in a structure called the MHC complex, on the surface of the APC. This triggers initial activation of the T cells.

How do cytotoxic T cells destroy cells bearing foreign antigens?

Cytotoxic T cells (Tc) are T cells that kill target cells by inducing apoptosis using the same mechanism as natural killer cells. They either express Fas ligand, which binds to the fas molecule on the target cell, or act by using perforins and granzymes contained in their cytoplasmic granules.

What is cytokine therapy?

Cytokine therapy has proven to be a novel therapeutic approach in treating patients with advanced malignancies. The purpose of this type of therapy is to manipulate the immune response in such a way as to generate the appropriate immune effector cells to eradicate solid tumors. Cytokine therapy is administrated only after the conventional form ...

Is chicken immune system similar to mammals?

Since the chicken's immune system is similar to that of mammals, they offer an attractive model system with which to study the effectiveness of cytokine therapy in the control of disease in intensive livestock. Cytokine therapy has proven to be a novel therapeutic approach in treating patients with advanced malignancies.

What is immunotherapy treatment?

Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". The active agents of immunotherapy are collectively called immunomodulators. They are a diverse array of recombinant, synthetic and natural preparations, often cytokines, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interferons, imiquimod and cellular membrane fractions from bacteria are already licensed for use in patients. Others including IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, various chemokines, synthetic cytosine phosphate-guanosine (CpG), oligodeoxynucleotides and glucans are currently being investigated extensively in clinical and preclinical studies.

Why are cytokines confusing?

The nomenclature of the cytokines can be confusing, primarily because they are frequently named for their biological activity. The names of some of the early identified cytokines have become so ingrained in the literature that these names will probably not change despite attempts to standardize the nomenclature. Referring to the cytokines by their activity lacks specificity because cytokines are pleotropic and are involved in multiple biological activities. It is possible for two groups of investigators to be working on the same molecule, but to be focusing on different aspects of its functional capacity. Attempts at standardization have therefore included assigning interleukin numbers to cytokines as their genes are sequenced. This method has not been uniformly applied to all newly discovered cytokines, partly because many members of supergene families are often discovered. For example, IL-8 was initially described, and subsequently multiple additional members of this family have been cloned. This group of molecules associated with IL-8 are called chemokines (5). Table 1 provides a partial listing of cytokines that may be relevant to psychiatry and highlights evidence of secretion of cytokines by brain cells (astrocytes and/or microglia) and evidence of cytokine receptors in the brain. A good deal of the work on activity of cytokines in the brain is still in progress.

What is the function of cytokine receptors?

Cells that express a functional receptor for a cytokine will respond to the presence of that cytokine . These interactions of cytokines and cytokine receptors are a necessary component of the physiologic response to cytokines. Cytokine receptors can also be found in a soluble form.

How does stress affect cytokine production?

The physical stress of infection or trauma has long been known to stimulate cytokine production, and the effects of psychological stress on cytokine secretion have also been investigated. Weiss and colleagues (35), using an animal (rat) model of stress (intermittent tail shock), found that in vitro IL-2 and interferon production were significantly reduced in lymphocytes from stressed animals compared to nonstressed control animals. These effects were largely independent of the effects of glucocorticoids, as they could be reproduced in animals after their adrenals had been removed. The authors also noted that the effects of stress were not uniformly immunosuppressive and that enhancement of cytokine production was observed when certain specific conditions were met: Le May and coinvestigators (18) used exposure of rats to an open field as the psychological stressor in a series of experiments. They found that plasma IL-6 activity increased within 30 minutes of exposure to the stressor. Unlike the stress from tail shock, the open-field stress was purely “psychological” and involved no physical contact with the animal. In a different line of experiments, Persoons and colleagues (53) found that isolated alveolar macrophages from rats exposed to stress showed a marked rise in IL-1b and TNF-αa secretion, but no changes in the production of IL-6. In addressing discrepancies between results, it is important to note that 1) the effects of stress are not uniform and vary with such factors as nature of the stressor, its intensity and duration, and control over the stressor; 2) the effects vary depending on the organ/tissue or cells being investigated; and 3) different cytokines may be affected differently by the same stress paradigm.

Where is IL-1 found?

IL-1 immunoreactive nerve fibers have also been described in the human brain, particularly in the hypothalamus (12). Widespread TNF and other cytokine immunoreactivity has been detected in the murine brain (8). Cytokine receptors have also been detected in several areas of the brain ( Table 1 ).

Is IL-1 a cytokine?

A good deal of the work on activity of cytokines in the brain is still in progress. Several cytokines ( e.g., TNF, interferon, and IL-1) are available in more than one form, as they are the product of more than one gene. They are given a suffix from the Greek alphabet (α, β, γ) to distinguish them from one another.

Why are cytokines important in psychiatric disorders?

Because cytokines are closely associated with central neurotransmitters and because cytokine regulation is affected by stress, a number of studies have investigated a possible role for cytokines in major psychiatric disorders. These studies have been described in an emerging literature on cytokine regulation in major depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other psychiatric disorders.

What is the purpose of Table 1?

Table 1 provides a partial listing of cytokines that may be relevant to psychiatry and highlights evidence of secretion of cytokines by brain cells (astrocytes and/or microglia) and evidence of cytokine receptors in the brain. A good deal of the work on activity of cytokines in the brain is still in progress.

What are the cytokines in lymphocytes?

The common γ-chain (γc, also known as IL-2 receptor-γ subunit) cytokines include IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21. The fundamental role of these cytokines in lymphocyte development is illustrated by primary immunodeficiency that arises from inactivating mutations of γc (encoded by IL2RG ), termed X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID). Many γc cytokines also have been implicated in diverse autoimmune diseases. IL-2 is the prototypic T-cell growth factor and has both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects. This cytokine is important for effector T cells, upregulating production of other cytokines and augmenting the cytolytic activity of CD8 + T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Blockade of the IL-2 receptor with daclizumab is approved for the treatment of transplant rejection and seems to be efficacious in multiple sclerosis (MS) 9, 10. IL-4 is found at elevated levels in the synovial fluid of patients with early RA but is absent in late disease 11; generally, though, IL-4 is thought to be more important in driving allergic diseases. Both IL-7 and IL-15 are important for lymphocyte homeostasis and T-cell memory 11, 12 IL-15 also regulates NK cells, whereas IL-7 is important for the homeostasis of other innate lymphoid cells 13. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) shares the IL-7 receptor-α chain as a receptor component; it has a role in T-cell development and allergy 12. IL-9 is involved in atopy and IBD 14. IL-21 promotes differentiation of follicular helper T (T FH) cells, which act on B cells in germinal centres to promote antibody class-switching 15. Inactivating mutations of IL21 and IL21R result in immunodeficiency 16. Because of their role in class switching, T FH cells are thought to be important for diverse autoantibody-linked autoimmune diseases including RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Levels of IL-21 are increased in the synovium and serum of patients with RA 17. Targeting IL-21 has been investigated in phase I trials of RA and Crohn disease, although results have not yet been reported 18.

Which cytokines bind to type I and type II receptors?

Cytokines that bind type I and type II receptors include interleukins, interferons (IFNs), IFN-like cytokines, colony-stimulating factors, hormones, and growth factors ( Table 1 ). Some of these cytokines share receptor subunits and can be grouped on this basis.

Is IL-2 a cytokine?

IL-2 is a prime example : the importance of this cytokine in promoting immune tolerance through upregulation of FOXP3 protein would seem to indicate that IL-2 inhibition might induce, rather than treat, autoimmunity 32, but the efficacy of targeting IL-2 in MS provides a very different view 9, 10. While daclizumab is efficacious in the treatment of MS, this therapy can be complicated by rash and alopecia, indicative of exacerbation of autoimmunity 9, 10, 33.

What is IL-6?

IL-6 is the prototypic proinflammatory cytokine, which, like a number of related cytokines, signals through the gp130 receptor subunit (encoded by IL6ST ). Among its many actions, IL-6 drives the production of TNF and IL-1, and induces the differentiation of type 17 helper T (T H 17) cells ( Fig. 2 ).

Is tofacitinib better than methotrexate?

Tofacitinib was superior to methotrexate in the treatment of naive patients 63 and as effective as adalimumab 62. Two clinical trials assessing MRI and radiographic responses in nearly 1,000 patients indicated that tofacitinib halts structural damage and erosive disease 61, 63, 64.

What are the major sources of TNF?

Within the rheumatoid joint, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are major sources of TNF, IL-1β, IL-6, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). IL-6, along with IL-1β and IL-23, promotes the differentiation of pathogenic type 17 helper T (T H 17) cells. Pathogenic T H 17 cells produce the neutrophil growth factor granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). G-CSF and GM-CSF drive neutrophil-derived production of TNF and IL-1β. T H 17 cells are also the major producers of IL-17. TNF, IL-17 and IL-1β induce production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS), which degrade the cartilage matrix. Similarly, production of the type I cytokine IL-12 by macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) promotes the differentiation of pathogenic T H 1 cells. T H 1 cells produce IFN-γ, which activates macrophages. IL-20 and other cytokines promote bone resorption by osteoclasts. DCs also produce IL-15, which promotes FLS survival and T H 1 differentiation, and IL-21, which promotes follicular helper T (T FH )-cell differentiation and antibody production.

Is tofacitinib effective for psoriasis?

Tofacitinib has also been found to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis 65, being noninferior to etanercept 65, 66, 67. However, the FDA has declined to approve tofacitinib for psoriasis.

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