Immune and inflammatory signaling networks

Immune and inflammatory signaling networks are complex systems of molecular interactions that coordinate the body's response to pathogens and tissue damage (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2017). These networks involve various components, including cell-surface receptors like Toll-like receptors (TLRs), intracellular signaling molecules such as Janus kinases (JAKs), and transcription factors like NF-κB (NIH, 2023). Their primary biological function is to maintain homeostasis by initiating and resolving inflammatory responses (PubMed, 2022). However, dysregulation of these networks is central to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and cancer (StatPearls, 2023). While many drugs target specific nodes within these networks—such as TNF inhibitors or JAK inhibitors—the networks themselves are too broad to be considered a single therapeutic target. Therefore, this entry represents a high-level biological category rather than a specific, druggable molecule.

Other names

Immune signaling pathwaysInflammatory cascadesCytokine signaling networksInflammatory signaling pathways

Inhibition of specific signaling nodes (e.g., cytokines, kinases) to modulate the broader immune and inflammatory response.