Cytokines orchestrating the immune response.

The author summarises the current knowledge of the major immune cytokines, their receptors and functions, and illustrates the pivotal role of cytokines in regulating immune responses. As researchers explore the factors which influence the genetics of disease resistance in livestock and poultry, alleles associated with differences in the expression of, and responsiveness to, cytokines will inevitably be defined. Variations in cytokine receptors, as well as in sensitivity to the rapidly expanding array of cytokine agonists and antagonists, will also be identified. These differences influence not only disease resistance but also potential disease pathology and speed of recovery from infection. The author concludes with a discussion of some uses of cytokines in clinical practice. This area is the subject of active exploration with clinical trials in many species, addressing issues such as immune system stimulation and disease treatment with cytokine proteins. As veterinarians use such new biotherapeutics, the issue of genetic control of responses to deliberate cytokine stimulation will become important to producers.