Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
09:43
Microfluidic Approach to Resolve Simultaneous and Sequential Cytokine Secretion of Individual Polyfunctional Cells
Published on: March 8, 2024
Interpreting mixed signals: the cell's cytokine conundrum
Greg M Delgoffe1, Peter J Murray, Dario A A Vignali
1Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Current Opinion in Immunology
|August 20, 2011
Summary
Cytokines orchestrate immune responses, but a limited number of signaling molecules mediate their diverse effects. This review explores mechanisms behind cytokine signaling complexity for therapeutic insights.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Signaling
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cytokines are crucial for immune system regulation, influencing cell activation and differentiation.
- Cytokines exhibit pleiotropy and functional redundancy, acting on various cell types.
- Despite diverse cytokine actions, a conserved set of signaling molecules transduces these signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms by which cytokines mediate distinct cellular outcomes.
- To explore how a limited number of signaling molecules generate diverse cellular responses.
- To highlight the therapeutic potential of understanding cytokine signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cytokine signaling pathways.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms in cytokine signal transduction.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on cytokine-mediated cellular effects.
Main Results:
- Cytokine signaling involves shared downstream effectors despite receptor diversity.
- Post-translational modifications and combinatorial signaling contribute to signal specificity.
- Context-dependent interpretation of signals by cells allows for distinct outcomes.
Conclusions:
- A limited repertoire of signaling molecules generates diverse cytokine responses through complex mechanisms.
- Understanding these mechanisms is key for developing targeted cytokine-based therapies.
- Further research into signal integration and cellular context is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...
01:22Diversity in Cell Signaling Responses
The physiological function of a cell and cellular communication are outcomes of a range of extrinsic signals, intracellular signaling pathways, and cellular responses. No two cell types express the same repertoire of signaling components. Receptors are highly selective for their cognate ligands, but once activated, they can alter multiple cellular processes such as DNA transcription, protein synthesis, and metabolic activity.
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
Graded and Abrupt Responses
Some signaling systems generate...
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...