title: Interplay among cytokines and T cell subsets in the progression and control of immune-mediated diseases.
abstract: Cytokines serve as key mediators of inflammation and tissue damage in a variety of immune-mediated disorders. The induction, progression, and resolution of inflammation in such disorders are characterized by a dynamic balance between both the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as the pathogenic and protective T cell subsets. Over the past two decades, the roles of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) /IL-23 axis and the T helper 17 (Th17)/ T regulatory (Treg) cell balance in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity and other inflammatory diseases have extensively been analyzed, and their significance validated. However, these studies, coupled with others devoted to well-established Th1/Th2 cytokines, have unraveled some challenging issues including the dual action of cytokines and the plasticity of T cell subsets. Nevertheless, major positive advances have also been made regarding cytokines and T cell subsets as therapeutic targets/agents. In this special issue, "Cytokines in Immune Pathology and Therapy," leading experts have shared their research work and perspectives on the roles of cytokines in the development and control of immune-mediated diseases. An outline of 14 articles in the first volume is presented here. The second volume will follow soon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. Electronic address: kmoudgil@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Kamal D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Moudgil
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053759:Interleukin-23
keywords: Autoimmunity; Cytokines; Immunopathogenesis; Inflammation; T cell subsets