title: [Immunology in clinical practice. VIII. Role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections].
abstract: Cytokines are small proteins that can be produced by many different cell types involved in inflammation. The cytokine network consists of pro-inflammatory cytokines, facilitating inflammation, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing inflammation at least in part by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The production of cytokines is enhanced during bacterial infections. The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines critically determines the outcome of infection. Excessive systemic release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 may contribute to organ failure in patients with fulminant sepsis. On the other hand, the local action of pro-inflammatory cytokines, at the site of a compartmentalized infection, is required for an adequate host antibacterial defence. Therefore, neutralization of pro-inflammatory cytokines may benefit some patients with bacterial sepsis but harm others.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Inwendige Geneeskunde, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Poll
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Speelman
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: van Deventer
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10