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By Charlotte O'Donnell PhD A role for IL-33 in Barrier Function and Epithelial Wound Healing IL-33 is constitutively expressed by cells involved in the maintenance of mechanical barriers, including keratinocytes, lung and gut epithelial cells, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells [1]. In these cells IL-33 is localized to the nucleus and mediates gene transcription. It is believed to maintain a quiescent sta …

The IL-1 Cytokine The cytokine, IL-1, has been the subject of copious research since it was first identified. This pro-inflammatory cytokine is known to play a dichotomous role in disease by inducing pathogenesis of auto-inflammatory disorders, while simultaneously defending against invading pathogens [1]. IL-1 is implicated in the development of numerous inflammatory diseases including ulcerative colitis. This has resulted in the mechanism behind IL-1 …

Katherine Edwards, PhD Student, Queen’s University Belfast Cytokines play a vital role in immune responses enabling cross-talk between different cell types and inducing activation, differentiation, proliferation and cell migration by altering gene expression in target cell types. There are a wide variety of cytokines each with varying roles which when produced in different combinations can lead to various outcomes. Cytokines can promote inflammatio …

IL-8 Overview Interleukin-8 (IL-8), also known as CXCL8, was discovered over 30 years ago as a small molecule that could promote chemotaxis and induce the production of both superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H202) (Schroder et al, 1987; Yoshimura et al, 1987). IL-8 is now recognised as a chemokine, which are small chemoattractant molecules that are secreted by cells of the immune system. Chemokines induce integrin expression and primarily attract leukoc …

Sepsis Infection and Inflammation The immune cells are in charge of produce a response against every pathogen that want to attack ours bodies. This response finish when the pathogen is dead and our system is save again. Nevertheless, in some cases the infection could be important and can be maintained over time, forcing our immune system to generate systemic and aggressive inflammatory mechanisms against them that also can affect our organism. This life …