[Cytokines and gut]

Cytokines are soluble proteins or glycoproteins produced by a wide variety of cell types. Cytokines are local regulatory factors which are involved in cell growth, cell differentiation, inflammation, and immune responses. In the gastrointestinal mucosa, not only inflammatory cells but also epithelial and mesenchymal cells secrete cytokines in response to various stimuli. Inflammatory cytokines are playing critical roles in the inflammation associated with gastrointestinal infections, including Helicobacter pylori infection in the gastric mucosa. Animal studies have shown that abnormal cytokine response may be risk for developing inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Cytokines will be important therapeutic targets in these diseases.