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

此外，炎症组织（内皮细胞、成纤维细胞、角化细胞、肝细胞、肝星状细胞、膜细胞或胶质细胞）的单核细胞、巨噬细胞、粒细胞和淋巴细胞等免疫活性细胞也参与了机体感染和损伤后的炎症反应。这些细胞之间的交流是由细胞因子带来的。这些多肽介质通过靶细胞表面的特定受体起作用。这些信号被转导到细胞中的分子机制尚不完全清楚。细胞反应范围从基因表达改变、增殖、分化、凋亡、迁移到脱颗粒。信号转导级联和细胞因子或受体表达的失调已被发现是许多疾病的原因。由于这些临床意义，许多学术和商业研究机构对细胞因子诱导的信号转导级联感兴趣。542合作研究中心的参与成员正在调查细胞因子在炎性疾病中的作用，以便了解它们在病理学中的作用。这些研究的结果将为开发新的诊断工具和治疗急慢性炎症性疾病提供合理的基础。

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.