Cytokines and cytokine regulators

Cytokines and cytokine regulators encompass a vast family of small signaling proteins and their associated modulating factors that serve as the primary mediators of the immune system [Zhang & An, 2007]. These molecules, which include interleukins, interferons, and chemokines, act in an autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine fashion to regulate cell growth, differentiation, and activation [Dinarello, 2007]. While essential for host defense and tissue repair, the overproduction or chronic expression of cytokines is central to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and life-threatening systemic inflammation such as sepsis [Kopf et al., 2010]. Pharmacological strategies targeting this class include monoclonal antibodies that sequester ligands, decoy receptors, and small-molecule inhibitors of downstream signaling pathways like the JAK/STAT axis [Kopf et al., 2010]. Due to their pleiotropic effects, therapeutic modulation of cytokines carries significant risks, most notably an increased susceptibility to serious infections and potential for immune-related adverse events [StatPearls, 2023]. This entry is classified as incorrect because it represents a broad functional category rather than a specific, individual molecular target.

Other names

Immunomodulating agentsInterleukinsInterferonsChemokinesLymphokinesMonokinesCytokine modulators

Neutralization of circulating ligands, competitive inhibition of cytokine receptors, or inhibition of intracellular signaling transducers such as Janus kinases (JAKs).