BIOL 3120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Map3K7, Myd88, Signal Transduction
Document Summary
Cytokines =molecules that communicate among cells of the immune system. Can be soluble or membrane-bound (e. g. tnf) Bind to specific receptors on target cells --> signal transduction pathways --> alter enzyme activity and gene expression. Regulate the intensity and duration of the immune response. Stimulate/ inhibit activation, proliferation, or differentiation of cells. Can regulate secretion of other cytokines or antibodies. Each can travel different distances: endocrine: circulation --> distant cell, paracrine: --> nearby cells, autocrine: --> self (do not memorize examples) Pleiotropy: a cytokine that induces different effects depending on the nature of the target cells. Redundant: two or more cytokines that mediate similar functions. Synergy: when the combined effect of two cytokines is greater than the effects of individual cytokines. Antagonize: when the effects of one cytokine inhibit the effect of another. Cascade induction: when the action of one cytokine on a target cell induces the cell to produce one or more additional cytokines.
