INTERFERON SYSTEM IN CELLULAR FUNCTION AND DISEASE

细胞因子，如干扰素（IFN）-γ和白细胞介素（IL）-2，是一种免疫调节剂。 一组特殊的类蛋白质， 对细胞发育和各种细胞功能的影响。 本项目 一直专注于研究细胞因子与细胞因子相互作用的方式， 免疫系统的细胞和眼部微环境中的细胞。 我们已经证明，IFN-γ和IL-2被发现在发炎的眼睛 与T细胞浸润和主要组织相容性复合物有关 (MHC)II类抗原在浸润细胞和视网膜色素上的表达 不 上皮（RPE）细胞。 此外，IFN-γ激活的RPE细胞可以 处理并呈递抗原给辅助性T淋巴细胞。 实验上，我们证明了分离的人RPE细胞可以被 诱导产生另一种淋巴因子IL-6和可溶性细胞间质 粘附分子-1（ICAM-1）。 IL-6是 一种能够增强抗体产生的强效炎症细胞因子 和细胞毒性T细胞活性。 ICAM-1是一种粘附分子， S 细胞粘附是多种免疫功能的重要组成部分。 这些研究表明，马槟榔碱介导的RPE细胞活化可能是B 是眼免疫的基本组成部分，也是RPE细胞的重要方面 移植 这些观察结果表明IFN-γ诱导MHC I类、II类 抗原和ICAM-1表达以及IL-6分泌。 所有这些 因子可作为自身免疫性疾病的局部放大系统， 炎症性眼病。 更好地理解细胞因子的作用 参与自身免疫发展的机制， 炎症可能有益于开发这些疾病的治疗方法。

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.