Lecture notes Cells and Immunity Signalling in the Immune System (BI2BC45)

05.03.20


L12 – Signaling in the immune system
Definitions:
Cytokines (secreted proteins that mediate effector functions in the immune system – first
messengers)
Revision:
 Types of receptors




Lecture:
 Immune cell signaling basics
o Innate vs adaptive immunity
o PI3kinase and RAS kinase
 Cytokines
o Function as ligand/receptors
o Families of cytokines
 Chemokines (migratory towards infection)
 Interferon (antiviral)
 Interleukins (actions dependent upon interleukin)
o Classes of cytokines
 Cytokines mediate innate immunity
 Regulate lymphocyte growth, activation, and differentiation
 Reg inflammatory cells
 Mediate chemotaxis (attract neutrophils by IL-8 and eosinophils by IL5)
 Causes immune cells to enter tissues from blood vessels
 Stim hematopoiesis
o Innate immunity
 Diff cells respond to diff factors
 Eg IL-8 from macrophages act on NK cells and T cells
 Pos/neg feedback groups in an autocrine loop
 Can lead to cytokine storms that activate cells to damage normal
tissues (autoimmune)
o Adaptive immunity