cytokines

Key role in causing Changes in inflammation
Stimulates regeneration e.g. in liver cells and proliferation
Can act as hormones e.g. interleukins, leptin, RANK ligand

stimulus

  • Released by NK cells, macrophages or leukocytes after ingesting bacterial products
  • Endotoxins - protein A, lipotechoic acid (similar to LPS)

cell level effects

  • activation of T cells
  • recruitment of other immune cells?

gross physiological effects

  • Anorexia and cachexia
    • ?via melanocortin system in hypothalamus
  • Fever - IL-1
  • Granulomatous inflammation - TNF-a
    • via activation of T cells → macrophage activation (the macrophages make up the granulomas)
      • "There is no known functional difference between these two types of giant cells, yet some pathologists persist in describing them—perhaps because they make nice exam questions!" never change...

Basically a lot of what you recognise as THE SEPSISSSSSS, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, etc. etc. badness.

regulation

  • Cleared by sinusoidal epithelial cells in the liver

Targeted by BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors