Question

Cytokines, Chemokines, and Their Receptors​

-Note several ways that cytokines regulate the immune response,

-emphasis on mechanisms to slow down or limit the immune response.

-In your answer, discuss why you think these control features are important and describe a potential therapeutic application of one of the control mechanisms, including possible applications of this potential therapeutic treatment.

Answer 1

Regulation done by cytokines involves:

• Recognition of antigen in the absence of co-stimulation resulting in energy
• Recognition of antigen with CTLA-4 engagement of B7 resulting in down-regulation of T cell activation
• Cytokines with stimulatory or inhibitory activities on immune cells
• Idiotype/anti-idiotype interactions leading to stimulation or inhibition of immune responses.
• Regulation by regulatory T cells (Tregs): Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a recently described populations of cells that can regulate immune responses. They do not prevent initial T cell activation; rather, they inhibit a sustained response and prevent chronic and potentially damaging responses. They do not have properties of Th1 or Th2 cells but they can easily suppress both Th1 and Th2 responses.
• Regulation by antibody: Soluble antibody can face antigen receptors on B cells and block or restrict B cell activation. the antigen-antibody complexes can bind to Fc receptors on B cells as well, sending an inhibitory signal to B cells.
• The use of cell-penetrating bispecific antibodies in targeted molecular therapy will significantly expand the spectrum of convenient intracellular targets and may have an intense impact on cancer therapy.