INTERFERON SYSTEM IN CELLULAR FUNCTION AND DISEASE

细胞因子，如干扰素(干扰素)-γ和白介素2，是一种 一组特殊的荷尔蒙样蛋白，对 关于细胞发育和各种细胞功能的研究。这个项目 专注于研究细胞因子与细胞因子的相互作用 免疫系统的细胞和眼睛微环境中的细胞。 我们已经证明在发炎的眼睛中发现了干扰素-γ和白介素2。 与T细胞浸润和主要组织相容性复合体相关 (MHC)-II类抗原在浸润性细胞和视网膜猪上的表达 T 上皮(RPE)细胞。此外，干扰素-γ激活的RPE细胞可以 处理抗原并将其呈递给辅助T淋巴细胞。 实验证明，分离的人RPE细胞可以 诱导产生另一种淋巴因子IL-6和可溶性细胞间 与干扰素-γ孵育后的黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)。IL-6是 一种能够促进抗体产生的强效炎性细胞因子 和细胞毒T细胞活性。ICAM-1是一种黏附分子 S 细胞黏附是几种免疫功能的重要组成部分。 这些研究表明，细胞因子介导的RPE细胞活化可能是 眼免疫的基本成分和RPE细胞的一个重要方面 移植。 这些观察表明，干扰素-γ诱导MHC I类、II类 RPE细胞抗原和ICAM-1的表达及IL-6的分泌。所有这些 因子可作为自身免疫和免疫的局部扩增系统 炎症性眼病。更好地理解细胞因子的作用 在涉及自身免疫发展的机制中 炎症在开发这些疾病的治疗方法方面可能是有益的。

Cytokines, such as interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2, are a group of specialized hormone-like proteins that exert profound influences on cellular development and on a variety of cellular functions. This proje has concentrated on studying the ways in which cytokines interact with cells of the immune system and with cells in the ocular microenvironment. We have shown that IFN-gamma and IL-2 are found within the inflamed eye in association with T-cell infiltration and major histocompatibility comple (MHC) class II antigen expression on infiltrating cells and on retinal pigm t epithelial (RPE) cells. Furthermore, IFN-gamma-activated RPE cells can process and present antigens to helper T lymphocytes. Experimentally we demonstrated that isolated human RPE cells can be induced to produce another lymphokine, IL-6, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) following incubation with IFN-gamma. IL-6 is a potent inflammatory cytokine capable of enhancing antibody production and cytotoxic T-cell activities. ICAM-1 is an adhesion molecule that media s cell adhesion, an essential component for several immunologic functions. These studies indicate that cytokine-mediated activation of RPE cells may b a basic component of ocular immunity and an important aspect of RPE cell transplantation. These observations indicate that IFN-gamma induces MHC class I, class II antigen and ICAM-1 expression and IL-6 secretion by RPE cells. All of thes factors may serve as a local amplification system in autoimmune and inflammatory eye disease. A better understanding of the role of cytokines in the mechanisms involved in the development of autoimmunity and inflammation may be beneficial in developing treatments for these diseases.