Cytokines: Pulling the Body Together as a Whole

Giamila Fantuzzi

doi:10.1100/2011/271206

Abstract

Cytokines: Pulling the Body Together as a Whole

Highlights

It was not too long ago that replying “Cytokines” to the question “What’s your area of research?” elicited a puzzled look from most researchers
With chronic inflammation being recognized as the main underlying pathophysiological mechanism of the majority of diseases affecting vast swaths of the world population, from infections to joint degeneration, from atherosclerosis to diabetes, cancer, autoimmunity and many more, it is no surprise that research into the role and regulation of cytokines, one of the most important family of inflammatory mediators, is on a constant rise
New functions for old ones unraveled, and new mechanisms of action clarified seemingly every day. This special issue of TheScientificWorldJOURNAL includes reviews and primary research articles on two aspects of cytokine biology that are being recognized as playing critical roles in the regulation of inflammation and chronic pathologies

Summary

Introduction

It was not too long ago that replying “Cytokines” to the question “What’s your area of research?” elicited a puzzled look from most researchers. With chronic inflammation being recognized as the main underlying pathophysiological mechanism of the majority of diseases affecting vast swaths of the world population, from infections to joint degeneration, from atherosclerosis to diabetes, cancer, autoimmunity and many more, it is no surprise that research into the role and regulation of cytokines, one of the most important family of inflammatory mediators, is on a constant rise. This special issue of TheScientificWorldJOURNAL includes reviews and primary research articles on two aspects of cytokine biology that are being recognized as playing critical roles in the regulation of inflammation and chronic pathologies.

Results

Conclusion