Carol A. Feghali, Ph.D., and Timothy M. Wright, M.D.

Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, E1109 Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Received 11/06/96; Accepted 12/13/96; On-line 01/01/97

1. ABSTRACT

Inflammation is mediated by a variety of soluble factors, including a group of secreted polypeptides known as cytokines. Inflammatory cytokines can be divided into two groups: those involved in acute inflammation and those responsible for chronic inflammation. This review describes the role played in acute inflammation by IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-11, IL-8 and other chemokines, G-CSF, and GM-CSF. It also describes the involvement of cytokines in chronic inflammation. This latter group can be subdivided into cytokines mediating humoral responses such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-13, and those mediating cellular responses such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, interferons, transforming growth factor-ß, and tumor necrosis factor alpha and ß. Some cytokines, such as IL-1, significantly contribute to both acute and chronic inflammation. This review also summarizes features of the cell-surface receptors that mediate the inflammatory effects of the described cytokines.