SFB 542: Molecular Mechanisms of Cytokine-Mediated Inflammatory Processes: Signal Transduction and Pathophysiological Consequences

除了免疫活性细胞如单核细胞、巨噬细胞、粒细胞和发炎组织的淋巴细胞（内皮细胞、成纤维细胞、角质形成细胞、肝细胞、肝星状细胞、间膜细胞或神经胶质细胞）参与感染和损伤后生物体的炎症反应。这些细胞之间的交流是由细胞因子引起的。这些多肽介质通过靶细胞表面上的特异性受体起作用。这些信号转导到细胞中的分子机制尚未完全了解。细胞反应的范围从改变基因表达、增殖、分化、凋亡、迁移到脱粒。已发现信号转导级联和细胞因子或受体表达的失调是几种疾病的原因。由于这些临床意义，许多学术和商业研究机构对马槟榔碱诱导的信号转导级联反应感兴趣。合作研究中心542的参与成员正在研究细胞因子在炎症性疾病中的作用，以了解它们在病理学中的作用。这些研究的结果将为开发急性和慢性炎症性疾病的新诊断工具和治疗方法提供合理的基础。

Besides immuno-competent cells such as monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes and lymphocytes cells of inflamed tissues (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, mensangial cells or glial cells) are involved in the inflammatory response of the organism after infection and injury. The communication between these cells is brought about by cytokines. These polypeptide-mediators act through specific receptors on the surface of target cells. The molecular mechanisms by which these signals are transduced into the cell are not fully understood. The cellular responses range from altered gene expression, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, migration to degranulation. Dysregulation of signal transduction cascades and cytokine or receptor expression has been found to be the cause of several diseases. Due to these clinical implications, many academic and commercial research institutions are interested in cytokine-induced signal transduction cascades. The participating members of the collaborative research centre 542 are investigating the role of cytokine action in inflammatory diseases in order to understand their role in pathology. The results of these studies will serve as a rational basis for the development of new diagnostic tools and therapies for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.