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Chapter 13: Cytokines

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Most cytokines are secreted proteins with wide-ranging immunoregulatory and hematopoietic activities as illustrated in Figure 13-4 (in cache) . One cytokine featured at this web site is lymphotoxin-a (LT-a) or tumor necrosis factor-b (TNF-b) as it is sometimes called. This cytokine represents one of several members of the TNF family of cytokines which bind to one or more receptors of the TNF receptor family. Because TNF-like cytokines are homotrimeric in structure, they can bind one, two, or three TNF-like receptors. Receptor clustering appears to be a key initiating step for cytokine function. The three-dimensional structure of the LT-a/(TNF-R1)3 complex is examined on the linked web page.


The following web sites have additional interesting and useful information regarding cytokine and cytokine receptor structure and function:

Cytokine Structures

Cytokine Receptor Structures

© 1997, Duane W. Sears

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[Lymphotoxin-a Complex with Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1]

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W. H. Freeman & Co. and Sumanas, Inc.
Immunology, January, 1997

Last Updated: June 30, 1998