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Questions and Answers
What are cytokines?
What are cytokines?
Cytokines are small proteins important in cell signaling that typically interact with specific cytokine receptors on the target cell surface.
How do cytokines exert their functions?
How do cytokines exert their functions?
Cytokines cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm, so they typically exert their functions by interacting with specific cytokine receptors on the target cell surface.
What types of signaling are cytokines involved in?
What types of signaling are cytokines involved in?
Cytokines are involved in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signaling as immunomodulating agents.
Which cells produce cytokines?
Which cells produce cytokines?
What is the role of cytokines in the immune system?
What is the role of cytokines in the immune system?
What is the main function of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway?
What is the main function of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway?
Which proteins are the key parts of JAK-STAT signaling?
Which proteins are the key parts of JAK-STAT signaling?
What may result from disrupted JAK-STAT signaling?
What may result from disrupted JAK-STAT signaling?
How many JAK proteins are there?
How many JAK proteins are there?
What domains are present in JAK proteins?
What domains are present in JAK proteins?
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Study Notes
Cytokines Overview
- Cytokines are small proteins (~5–25 kDa) that play a crucial role in cell signaling.
Functions and Signaling
- Cytokines cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm, so they exert their functions by interacting with specific cytokine receptors on the target cell surface.
- Cytokines are involved in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine signaling as immunomodulating agents.
Types of Cytokines
- Cytokines include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines, and tumour necrosis factors.
- Note: Hormones and growth factors are not generally considered cytokines, despite some overlap in terminology.
Production and Cells
- Cytokines are produced by a broad range of cells, including:
- Immune cells (macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and mast cells)
- Endothelial cells
- Fibroblasts
- Various stromal cells
- A given cytokine may be produced by more than one type of cell.
Importance in the Immune System
- Cytokines act through cell surface receptors and are especially important in the immune system.
- Cytokines modulate the immune response.
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