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Small proteins immune cells use to talk to each other: alarms, recruitment calls, growth orders and stand-down signals. Some are cancer drugs, and a flood of them is the danger of certain immunotherapies.
Interleukins, interferons, tumour necrosis factor and chemokines each act on cells carrying the matching receptor; IL-2 drives T-cell growth and was one of the first immunotherapies (aldesleukin), interferon-alpha was used in melanoma and leukaemia, and engineered cytokines aim to keep the benefit while losing the toxicity. Tumours secrete cytokines that recruit suppressive cells and drive inflammation, and IL-6 is a major driver of cancer cachexia. When CAR-T cells or T-cell engagers activate en masse they release cytokines in a surge (cytokine release syndrome), treated by blocking IL-6 with tocilizumab.
Backbone ribbon from PDB 1M47. RCSB PDB 1M47. The ribbon widens where the chain is folded into a regular pattern and narrows where it is a loose loop.
Showing the molecule this term concerns: Aldesleukin (high-dose IL-2).
Shares Immune system, T cell, T-cell engagers (bispecific), CAR-T cell therapy.
Shares Immune system, T cell, T-cell engagers (bispecific), CAR-T cell therapy.
Shares Inflammation, Immune system.
Shares Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), T-cell engagers (bispecific), CAR-T cell therapy.
Shares Macrophage, Inflammation.
Shares Immune system, T cell.