#cytokines

[heardatmedschool]

“When no one knows the mechanism, we always blame cytokines.”

About the pro-thrombotic tendencies of most neoplasms.

[humancelltournament]

Human Cell Tournament Round 2

Which cell or cell component is better?

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Cytokines

Voting ended onSep 28, 2025

Propaganda!

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of proteins (messenger RNA). RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are nucleic acids. The nucleic acids constitute one of the four major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. RNA is assembled as a chain of nucleotides. Cellular organisms use messenger RNA (mRNA) to convey genetic information (using the nitrogenous bases of guanine, uracil, adenine, and cytosine, denoted by the letters G, U, A, and C) that directs synthesis of specific proteins. Many viruses encode their genetic information using an RNA genome.

Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins (~5–25 kDa) important in cell signaling. Due to their size, cytokines cannot cross the lipid bilayer of cells to enter the cytoplasm and therefore typically exert their functions by interacting with specific cytokine receptors on the target cell surface. Cytokines have been shown to be involved in autocrine, paracrine and endocrine signaling as immunomodulating agents. They act through cell surface receptors and are especially important in the immune system; cytokines modulate the balance between humoral and cell-based immune responses, and they regulate the maturation, growth, and responsiveness of particular cell populations. Cytokines are important in health and disease, specifically in host immune responses to infection, inflammation, trauma, sepsis, cancer, and reproduction.

[hollyannpinderart]

Impactful Viruses🦠🧫

“Impactful Viruses” is a mixed media art picture featuring the Covid-19 virus and the Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mononucleosi

[bpod-bpod]

Smart Cells

Swelling, tenderness and weakness of the joints are the painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The condition – caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own healthy cells – can flare up and calm down over time, but can never be cured. And, if flare-ups are severe, they can even lead to bone erosion and deformity. Because standard anti-inflammatory drugs can cause unpleasant side effects with long-term use, researchers are developing so-called SMART cells (Stem cells Modified for Autonomous Regenerative Therapy) – pictured. These engineered cells are seeded onto a woven scaffold and grafted into the body wherein they secrete anti-inflammatory compounds only when flare-ups occur – when they detect inflammatory cytokines – thus minimising the chance of side effects. So far, the cells have been shown to respond to cytokines, suppress inflammation, and reduce bone damage in mice with a form of rheumatoid arthritis, all of which pave the way for human studies.

Written by Ruth Williams

Image from work by Yun-Rak Choi and Kelsey H. Collins, and colleagues, Guilak lab Washington University

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

Image copyright held by the original authors

Research published in Science Advances, September 2021

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[heckthis-heckallofthis]

Y'all is this fucking 1146??? Singing to himself??? With a pen as a microphone?????

[lbmozena]

Inktober dia 17: Storm/Tempestade

Uma tempestade um pouco diferente: de citocinas! A tempestade de citocinas é um evento imunológico onde há liberação excessiva de proteínas denominadas citocinas em um certo órgão ou tecido. As citocinas atraem muitas células inflamatórias para o local, que acabam lesando o órgão ou tecido afetado. O SARS-CoV-2, vírus que causa COVID-19, induz as células a produzirem essas tempestades.

//

A slightly different storm: cytokines! A cytokine storm is an immunological event where there is an excessive release of proteins called cytokines in a certain organ or tissue. Cytokines attract many inflammatory cells to the site, which end up damaging the affected organ or tissue. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, induces cells to produce these storms.

[studydev]

Cytokines & Receptors P.2 of 5

[medlabscience]

Fate-specifying cytokines on the development of T lymphocytes