title: Poxviral modifiers of cytokine responses to infection.
abstract: Poxviruses include some of the most virulent of all human pathogens. In part, the virulence of these viruses stems from their abilities to counter host defenses against infection. A family of cytokine-response modifiers encoded by the poxviruses contribute to these countermeasures. The poxviral cytokine-response modifiers appear to affect cytokine responses in at least four different ways: (a) by inhibiting the synthesis and release of cytokines from infected cells; (b) by interfering with the interaction between a cytokine and its receptor; (c) by inhibiting cytokine signal transmission; and (d) by synthesizing virus-encoded cytokines that antagonize the effects of host cytokines mediating antiviral processes. Known poxviral, cytokine-response modifiers include CrmA, an inhibitor of the interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme; several secreted soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, and interferon-gamma; and poxvirus-encoded growth factors resembling epidermal growth factor. Collectively, these and other as yet unidentified cytokine-response modifiers contribute to the inhibition of a variety of nonspecific and virus-specific immune defenses against virus infection. Information gained on the mechanisms used by poxviruses to modify cytokine-mediated processes should assist the development of novel therapies for a variety of diseases.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Pickup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D011212:Poxviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011213:Poxviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor