Cytokine & Cytokine Receptor

Sino biological offers a wide selection of tools for research on cytokines and their receptors. These include high-purity recombinant proteins, high-specific antibodies and ORF cDNA clones.

Cytokine & Receptor Background

Cytokines are a large group of proteins, peptides or glycoproteins that are secreted by specific cells of immune system. Cytokines are a category of signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation and hematopoiesis. Cytokines are produced throughout the body by cells of diverse embryological origin. Cytokine is a general name; other names are defined based on their presumed function, cell of secretion, or target of action. For example, cytokines made by lymphocytes can also be referred to as lymphokines, while interleukins are made by one leukocyte and act on other leukocytes. And chemokines are cytokines with chemotactic activities. Cytokines may act on the cells that secrete them (autocrine action), on nearby cells (paracrine action), or in some instances on distant cells (endocrine action).

An important part of Cytokines’ action on the immune system is to stimulate immune cell proliferation and differentiation. Cytokines involved in this function include Interleukin 1 (IL-1), which activates T cells; IL-2, which stimulates proliferation of antigen-activated T and B cells; IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6, which stimulate proliferation and differentiation of B cells; and other cytokines such as, Interferon gamma, IL-3, IL-7 and colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Cytokines act on their target cells by binding specific membrane receptors. The receptors and their corresponding cytokines have been divided into several families based on their structure and activities. Cytokines have been proved useful in immune-based therapies. For example, Interferon-alpha, a cytokine with broad antiviral properties, has been proven to be useful in treating cancers, such as malignant melanoma. Cytokine therapy is not merely a tool of the future. In fact, several cytokine therapies are now routinely used by many people living with HIV.

Cytokine & Receptor Related Studies

1. Cannon JG (2000). Inflammatory Cytokines in Nonpathological States. News Physiol Sci. 15: 298-303.
2. Howlett M, et al. (2009) Cytokine signalling via gp130 in gastric cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1793(11):1623-33.
3. Desai D, et al. (2009) Cytokine and anti-cytokine therapy in asthma: ready for the clinic? Clin Exp Immunol. 158(1):10-9.
4. Kunz M, et al. (2009) Cytokines and cytokine profiles in human autoimmune diseases and animal models of autoimmunity. Mediators Inflamm. 2009:979258.