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How cytokines signal messages within cells
1Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Signal Transduction, New York, NY 10012.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Cytokines signal through intracellular pathways, activating kinases and substrate proteins. The MARCKS protein is crucial for macrophage and neutrophil motility, explaining tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-8 actions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intracellular signaling pathways are critical for immune cell function.
- Cytokines modulate immune effector cell activity via cell surface receptors.
- Kinase cascades transduce external signals into cellular responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of intracellular signaling pathways in cytokine-mediated immune cell modulation.
- To characterize the function of protein kinase C substrates in immune responses.
- To elucidate the specific role of MARCKS in macrophage and neutrophil motility.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of intracellular signaling cascades initiated by cytokine receptor activation.
- Characterization of protein kinase C substrates.
- Functional studies on MARCKS (myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate) in immune cells.
Main Results:
- Cytokines activate internal signaling cascades involving kinase cascades.
- MARCKS protein identified as a key substrate.
- MARCKS plays a significant role in regulating macrophage and neutrophil motility.
Conclusions:
- MARCKS is a critical mediator of cytokine-induced immune cell motility.
- Understanding MARCKS function provides insight into the mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-8.
- Intracellular signaling pathways involving MARCKS are essential for immune effector cell function.