Introduction to Cytokines

• Define cytokine.
• List effects of cytokines on many different cell types in the immune response.
• Distinguish between the properties of cytokines.
• Differentiate between the terms used to classify cytokine signaling activity.
• Name the term that describes the massive overproduction and dysregulation of cytokines with extremely high circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines.

Cytokines in the Innate Immune Response

• Identify the process that induces production and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in response to infection caused by pathogenic bacteria and fungi invading the body’s epithelial barriers.
• Explain the functions of Interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in mediating the immune response.
• List the purposes of higher body temperatures during infection.
• Specify the effect of the cytokine interleukin-1RA (IL-1RA).
• Distinguish between the cytokines that comprise the tumor necrosis factor superfamily.
• Specify the activity of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the immune system.
• Determine the role of chemokines in the chemotaxis of white blood cells (WBCs).
• Identify the cytokine which acts primarily as a regulator of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, and the inflammatory response, acting as a control to help downregulate the inflammatory response.
• Identify the activity of the type I interferons IFN-α and IFN-β.

Cytokines in the Adaptive Immune Response

• Explain the role of the cytokines expressed by T cell helper 1 (Th1) cells in the immune process.
• Explain the role of the cytokines expressed by Th2 cells (IL-4 and IL-10) in the immune process.
• Specify how T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the immune system may be identified.
• Identify the essential role of Tregs.

Th17 Cytokines in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses

• Describe the role of Th17 cells in the host immune response.
• State the possible effects of dysregulation of Th17 cell subsets and secreted cytokines.

Hematopoietic Growth Factors

• Explain the biological role of activated macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Cytokine and Anti-cytokine Therapies

• State the purpose of anti-cytokine therapies.

Clinical Assays for Cytokines

• Distinguish between clinical assays for cytokines.