Main description:

This book guides the reader through the latest research on the cytokine network, covering signaling pathways, control of the immune response, and potential therapeutics. Different cytokines stimulate diverse responses in various phases of inflammation and immunity, including the innate immune response, the generation of effector T cells, and the development of antibodies by the humoral immune system. It is now clear that the pathophysiology of many infectious, autoimmune, allergic, and malignant diseases can be largely explained by which cytokines are induced and subsequently regulate the cellular responses. In clinical medicine, cytokines are involved in a wide spectrum of diseases. This book describes in three parts the properties and roles of 15 key cytokines under physiological and pathological conditions. Part I presents nine cytokines associated with inflammatory disorders, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the recently identified new helper T (Th) subset: Th17 cells. Part II gives details of three cytokines associated with allergic disorders, including Th2 responses and recently identified types of innate cells. Part III describes three cytokines that are associated with immunological tolerance and anti-inflammation, including regulatory T (Treg) cells, IL-10-producing Treg (Tr1) cells, and inducible IL-35-producing Treg (iTr35) cells. Cytokines are considered to be important as therapeutic targets for specific agonists or antagonists in numerous immune and inflammatory diseases. The ultimate goal of this book is to facilitate the development of therapeutic treatments for such diseases which has been limited by an insufficient understanding of the biology of cytokines and the complicated network that they create.

Contents:

Part I Cytokines in Inflammatory Disorders.- 1 The Interleukin-1 Family2 IL-6 and Inflammatory Diseases.- 3 The Roles of IL-17A and IL-17F in Infection and Inflammatory Disorders.- 4 IL-18.- 5 Interleukin-21: A Pleiotropic Mediator of Immunity and Inflammation with Broad Therapeutic Potential.- 6 Interleukin-22: A Bridge Between Epithelial Innate Host Defense and Immune Cells.- 7 IL-23 in Health and Disease.- 8 IL-36: An Epithelial Cytokine Important in Psoriasis.- 9 Anti-TNF Therapy: 20 Years from Our First Therapeutic Adventure.- Part II Cytokines in Allergic Disorders.- 10 Interleukin-25: A Key Initiator of Type 2 Immune Responses.- 11 Interleukin-33: A Multifunctional Alarmin that Promotes Both Health and Disease.- 12 Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP).- Part III Cytokines in Immunological Tolerance and Anti-inflammation.- 13 Interleukin-10: Cytokines in Anti-inflammation and Tolerance.- 14 Interleukin-27: Regulation of Immune Responses and Disease Development by a Pleiotropic Cytokine with Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Properties.- 15 Interleukin-35: A Novel Mediator of Peripheral Tolerance.- Index.