title: Cytokine-binding proteins in the lung.
abstract: Numerous cytokines and growth factors signal the normal processes of tissue maintenance and remodeling in the lung, yet the aberrant expression of these peptide mediators is involved in a variety of pulmonary diseases. Furthermore, several different binding proteins function in controlling the extracellular levels of many of these cytokines in the lung. For example, a variety of cytokines and growth factors bind to and are regulated by the ubiquitous proteinase inhibitor, alpha 2-macroglobulin. The insulin-like growth factors are controlled by a specific class of six different insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. The transforming growth factor-beta family and fibroblast growth factors interact with extracellular matrix proteins. Several growth factor receptors are shed into the extracellular milieu where they retain a functional binding domain and thereby act as specific binding proteins. Cytokine-binding proteins appear to have a diversity of functions and may serve as extracellular cytokine reservoirs, protective shields against proteolytic degradation of cytokines, modifiers of cytokine-induced biological activity, or as clearance avenues for cytokines. The wide spectrum of cytokine-regulating molecules is important in cell-cell communications under normal conditions, whereas cytokine-binding protein dysfunction could contribute to a number of pulmonary diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pulmonary Pathobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brody
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II