Cytokines
Overview of Cytokines as Drugs
CYTOKINES used as drugs |
APPROVED TREATMENT |
ERYTHROPOIETIN |
HEMATOPOIESIS (anemias, adjunct therapy for cancer) |
FILGRASTIM (G-CSF) |
|
INTERLEUKIN 11 |
|
SAGRAMOSTIM |
|
THROMBOPOIETIN |
|
Interferon α |
Neoplasms Hepatitis B and C |
Interferon β |
Multiple sclerosis (relapsing type) |
Interferon γ |
Chronic granulomatosis disease |
Interleukin 2 |
Neoplasms |
Interleukin 12 |
Neoplasms |
Tumor necrosis factor α |
Malignant melanoma |
- large, heterogeneous group of proteins with diverse functions
- control of immune cell function
- control of hematopoiesis
- antimicrobial and antitumour effects
- cytokines mediate their effects through specific receptors, in a manner similar to hormones
- cytokine interactions with target cells often result in cascade effects by causing the release of other (endogenous) cytokines
- e.g., IL2 --> increased TNFα production
- major areas under active investigation for immunopharmacology include immunodeficiency disorders (esp. AIDS), chronic infectious diseases, organ transplantation, inflammation and cancer