Cited by 926Cytokine Signaling Pathways and InteractionsImmune Response and InflammationHistorical Medical Research and Treatments

Historical insights into cytokines

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Dinarello, Charles A.·2007·European Journal of Immunology

Abstract

Cytokines affect nearly every biological process; these include embryonic development, disease pathogenesis, non-specific response to infection, specific response to antigen, changes in cognitive functions and progression of the degenerative processes of aging. In addition, cytokines are part of stem cell differentiation, vaccine efficacy and allograft rejection. This short insight focuses on the milestones in cytokine biology and how the various and often contradictory activities of these small, non-structural proteins affected the fields of inflammation and immunology. Multiple biological properties or pleiotropism is the hallmark of a cytokine. Today, the term "cytokine" encompasses interferons, the interleukins, the chemokine family, mesenchymal growth factors, the tumor necrosis factor family and adipokines. As of this writing, 33 cytokines are called interleukins, but many are part of families of related but distinct gene products. There are certainly over 100 separate genes coding for cytokine-like activities, many with overlapping functions and many still unexplored. Also discussed in this overview are the failures and successes of cytokines as therapeutic targets. A recent advance in the field has been that of differential cytokine production, which can be used to classify human disease as being "autoimmune" or "autoinflammatory" thus impacting on therapeutic interventions.

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Crossref · 10.1002/eji.200737772

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  • Over 100 different proteins are known as cytokines.

    “They were discovered in the early 60–70s, and today, over 100 different proteins are known as cytokines (5).”
  • Peripheral organs and immune cells can produce cytokines that participate in inter-organ communication.

    “Peripheral organs and immune cells can also produce smaller bioactive proteins, namely cytokines 1, that also participate in inter‐organ communication.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [56]56. Kampschmidt, R. F., Leukocytic endogenous mediator/endogenous pyrogen.In Powanda, M. C. and Canonico, P. G. (Eds.) The physiologic and metabolic responses of the host.Elsevier, Amsterdam 1981, pp 55-74.

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Authors
Dinarello, C. A.
Affiliations
University of Colorado Health (US)
Corresponding author
Dinarello, Charles A.
Venue
European Journal of Immunology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-11
Volume
37
Issue
S1
Pages
S34-S45
ISSN
  • 0014-2980 (ISSN-L)
  • 1521-4141
OpenAlex
W2084001707
Cited by
926
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 45 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 83 · 2022: 95 · 2021: 89 · 2020: 79 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 11
FWCI
1.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Journal of Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (15614, AI‐15614)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI‑15614, R56AI015614, R01AI015614)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Historical Medical Research and Treatments
Keywords
cytokines, pleiotropy, interferon, interleukins, chemokines, tumor necrosis factor family, adipokines, inflammation, cytokine therapy, autoimmune disease, autoinflammatory disease, stem cell differentiation, vaccine efficacy, allograft rejection
MeSH terms
Allergy and Immunology, Animals, Humans, Cytokines, History, 20th Century

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