Cytokine expression regulates the production of proteins that send signals to the immune system, promoting inflammation and preventing infection. Inappropriate expression can lead to autoimmune diseases such as arthritis. TNF is a crucial cytokine involved in both inflammation and cancer cell destruction. In osteoarthritis, TNF and IL-1 prevent tissue repair and healing. Therapy focuses on preventing cytokine expression.
Cytokine expression is a form of gene expression that regulates the production of proteins, called cytokines, which send signals to the immune system. This expression involves “reading” the genetic code of a cell and translating it into proteins. Cells use cytokine expression to send certain instructions to immune tissues, for example to promote inflammation near a lesion. Inappropriate expression can create an immune response against your body and can cause diseases such as arthritis.
After an injury, white blood cells enter the area to clear debris and prevent infection. The damaged cells increase the expression of certain cytokines that attract these blood cells to the area. In turn, the white blood cells initiate an inflammatory response, promoting blood flow and the arrival of more white blood cells.
During inflammation, white blood cells also increase their expression of cytokines. An important cytokine produced by gene expression is tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF not only promotes inflammation, but also helps destroy cancer cells and prevent viruses from replicating. Its proper expression near an injury site is therefore a crucial means of preventing infection.
When the body has been infected by foreign invaders, the expression of cytokines helps regulate the immune response. Cells express and release certain cytokines to help immune cells know they are part of the body and not to be attacked. Other cytokines are expressed after a cell has been infected and pass this information on to immune cells. These cells can then target the infected cell for destruction to prevent the infection from spreading.
Occasionally, proinflammatory cytokines are expressed improperly and can lead to autoimmune disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, there is continuous expression of cytokines near the synovial membranes that make up the joints. The cytokines produced by this expression, such as TNF and interleukin-1 (IL-1), cause joint inflammation. TNF appears to be the major cytokine involved in arthritis and its presence enhances the expression of other cytokines.
Cytokine expression is not always the direct trigger for arthritis, but it does allow the disease to continue. It is thought that an initial small infection near the joint can lead to a disproportionate immune response. Immune cells can attack not only the infection, but also the synovial membrane cells. Cytokines released by these immune cells promote continued inflammation and tissue damage.
Osteoarthritis is another disease involving inappropriate expression of cytokines. TNF and IL-1 cause bone tissue to break down, promote inflammation, and prevent the tissue from repairing itself. These cytokines also appear to prevent the expression of other factors that would encourage healing or disrupt the immune response. Some recent studies on osteoarthritis therapy have therefore focused on preventing the expression of these cytokines.
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