title: The role of cytokines in immunity and immunopathogenesis of pirolasmoses.
abstract: Cells involved in innate and adapted immunity produce cytokines capable of orchestrating the immune response to Babesia and Theileria infections. Thus, CD4-postive T cells recognise peptide fragments of the parasites in the context of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen and produce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) to activate macrophages for enhanced phagocytosis and intracellular killing of the parasites. In addition, CD4-positive T cells produce interleukin 2 (IL-2) which is essential for the clonal expansion of CD8-positive T cells. The latter cells kill Theileria-infected host leucocytes in an MHC class I-dependent manner. On the other hand, the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines contributes to disease progress.
authors.affiliation: Research Center Borstel, Center for Medicine in Biosciences, Germany. jahmed@fz-borstel.de
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000276:immunology; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D007109:Immunity; D016794:Theileria / Q000276:immunology; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines