Host inflammatory and immune markers

Host inflammatory and immune markers represent a broad category of endogenous molecules, including cytokines, chemokines, and acute-phase proteins, that reflect the activation and status of the host immune system (StatPearls, 2023). Key markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are critical for coordinating the body's response to pathogens, tissue injury, and malignancy (Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol, 2014). In clinical practice and drug development, they serve as essential tools for diagnosing systemic inflammation, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies (BMC Med, 2017). While not a single therapeutic target themselves, individual components within this group are frequently targeted by monoclonal antibodies and small molecules to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, and cytokine release syndrome (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2017). Monitoring these markers is vital for balancing therapeutic efficacy against the risks of profound immunosuppression and secondary infections (FDA, 2021).

Other names

Inflammatory biomarkersImmune markersHost response biomarkersSystemic inflammatory markersAcute-phase reactants

Therapeutic agents modulate these markers by directly neutralizing circulating cytokines, competitively inhibiting their receptors, or suppressing the upstream signaling pathways and gene expression responsible for their synthesis (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2017).