Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 12, Issue 24, 2006

In recent years, the knowledge on cytokines has advanced and even if new data are continuously added, we would contribute throwing light upon the multiple functions that these molecules can accomplish. As documented by the contributions here reported, these molecules are described as cytokine-like and cytokines in invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively. Actually, fish represent the first group in which cytokine genes Read More

After a general view of the actual situation of the phylogenetic relationships between the diverse animals and thus having traced the fundamental elements of an essentially phylogenetic classification, several themes that emerge from this initial analysis have been developed. For instance one of the fundamental problems is about homologous genes shared by the protostomes and deuterostomes and attributed back to that hy Read More

In association with their mechanisms of self/non-self recognition (known as mating type systems), ciliates synthesize and constitutively secrete cell type-specific proteins into their extracellular medium. These proteins, designated as pheromones, have been isolated from species of Euplotes and shown to be members of families of structurally homologous molecules, all rich in intra-chain disulfide bonds and organized exclusively i Read More

The review outlines the presence and function of TGF-β and PDGF family members in invertebrates. TGF-β and PDGF play an important role in development, in immune and neuroendocrine responses and in the wound repair by activating the classical transduction pathways. Generally speaking, these cytokines appear very early in evolution and conserve their functions.

The angiogenic process in vertebrates and hirudineans has been compared. The leech Hirudo medicinalis, subjected to an angiogenic stimulus (surgical explant or cytokine treatment) responds, as a vertebrate, with the formation of an extensive network of new vessels accompanied by the production of circulating cells. The reviewed data confirm the surprising similarity between hirudinean and vertebrate processes in woun Read More

Innate immunity plays a major role as a first defense against microbes. Effectors of the innate response include pattern recognition receptors (PRR), phagocytic cells, proteolytic cascades and peptides/proteins with antimicrobial properties. Each element of these events has been well studied in vertebrates and in some invertebrates such as annelids. From these different researches, it appears that mammalian innate i Read More

Complex immune systems require complex regulatory mechanisms. Whilst the control of innate and inflammatory responses is likely to be ancient in origin, and potentially ubiquitous in the animal kingdom, clearly the evolution of an adaptive immune system in vertebrates is likely to coincide with new regulatory mechanisms and molecules. Key amongst these is the cytokine network, well characterised in mammals and beco Read More

It appears evident that teleost fish are at present the vertebrate group in which, excluding mammals, most information on the immune system is available. However, despite the great impetus on the discovery of genes homologous to mammalian immunomodulatory molecules, the knowledge on biological activities exerted by cytokines is meager. This review reports the present knowledge on the biological activities of cytokine- Read More

In recent years the knowledge of avian cytokines has advanced and new data are continuously added. Nevertheless, some discontinuities persist and the correlations between molecular and functional levels are not completely clear. Most of the studies are focused on chicken, and comparative aspects with other avian groups are limited. The existence of T1 and T3 avian cytokines was assessed long ago and the rec Read More

The intricate interplay between the endothelium and immune cells has been well recognized in the context of immune responses. However, the fact that this inter-relation extends well beyond immune regulation is becoming increasingly recognized, with particular regards to the influence of the immune system on the essential endothelial process of angiogenesis, where the contribution of cytokines drives the angiogenic proc Read More

A number of in vitro studies have implicated protein kinase Cδ(PKCδ) and PKCε in the regulation of the immune system. In recent years, this has been convincingly demonstrated in mice deficient for PKCδ and PKCε. The reported phenotypes for these transgenic mice indicate that PKCδ suppresses immunoresponsiveness and inhibits the proliferation of B-lymphocytes, while PKCε is required for macrophages to mount an Read More

How cannabinoids influence immune function has been examined extensively in the last 30 years. Studies on drug-abusing humans and animals, as well as in vitro models employing immune cell cultures, have shown that marijuana, natural and endogenous cannabinoid compounds are immunomodulators. These substances modulate host resistance to bacterial, protozoan and viral infections as well as they can profound Read More

The so-called demographic transition has changed the age structure of the population worldwide, with profound effects on societal organization. The growing number and percentage of old and very old people has compelled the scientific community to focus on age related diseases and peculiar consequences of aging itself such as disability and frailty. Understanding the pathophysiology of frailty, a syndrome characteriz Read More

In this article we summarise present knowledge on the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines on chronic inflammation leading to organismal aging, a phenomenon we proposed to call "inflamm-aging". In particular, we review genetic data regarding polymorphisms of genes encoding for cytokines and proteins involved in natural immunity (such as Tolllike Receptors and Heat Shock Proteins) obtained from large population studies in Read More