title: Cytokines in Drosophila immunity.
abstract: Cytokines are a large and diverse group of small proteins that can affect many biological processes, but most commonly cytokines are known as mediators of the immune response. In the event of an infection, cytokines are produced in response to an immune stimulus, and they function as key regulators of the immune response. Cytokines come in many shapes and sizes, and although they vary greatly in structure, their functions have been well conserved in evolution. The immune signaling pathways that respond to cytokines are remarkably conserved from fly to man. Therefore, Drosophila melanogaster, provides an excellent platform for studying the biology and function of cytokines. In this review, we will describe the cytokines and cytokine-like molecules found in the fly and discuss their roles in host immunity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, BioMediTech, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: leena-maija.vanha-aho@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Leena-Maija
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Vanha-Aho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, BioMediTech, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valanne
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, BioMediTech, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland; PEDEGO Research Unit, and Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu and Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rämet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cytokines; Innate immunity