title: Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in tuberculosis: a two-edged sword in TB pathogenesis.
abstract: A major challenge in tuberculosis (TB) is to improve current vaccination and therapeutic strategies and this requires a fine understanding of the mechanisms that mediate protection and pathogenesis. We need to discern how the host perceives Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, what are the danger signals that activate the immune system and, in turn, how the immune response controls the life-cycle of Mtb. Cytokines, because of their nature of soluble mediators, represent key elements in mediating and tuning these complex processes. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies on cytokines expression and function in active (mainly human) TB. Understanding of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory networks is crucial to refine our knowledge on the immune responses directed against Mtb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilena Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Etna
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severa
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: eliana.coccia@iss.it.
authors.forename: Eliana Marina
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Coccia
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cytokine network; Cytokines; Danger signal; Immunoregulation; Mtb infection