Cytokine receptor

Some cytokine receptors have complex structures, with many of them being multi-chain receptors. This is because a cytokine receptor's structure determines its function, and which cytokines will be specific for that receptor. Because of this, a classification of cytokine receptors based on their three-dimensional structure has been attempted. (Such a classification, though seemingly cumbersome, provides several unique perspectives for attractive pharmacotherapeutic targets.) • Type I cytokine receptors, whose members have certain conserved motifs in their extracellular amino-acid domain. The IL-2 receptor belongs to this chain, whose γ-chain (common to several other cytokines) deficiency is directly responsible for the x-linked form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (X-SCID). • Type II cytokine receptors, whose members are receptors mainly for interferons. • Immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily, which are ubiquitously present throughout several cells and tissues of the vertebrate body • Tumor necrosis factor receptor family, whose members share a cysteine-rich common extracellular binding domain, and includes several other non-cytokine ligands like receptors, CD40, CD27 and CD30, besides the ligands on which the family is named (TNF). • Chemokine receptors, two of which acting as binding proteins for HIV (CXCR4 and CCR5). They are G protein coupled receptors. • TGF-beta receptor family, which are Serine/threonine kinase receptors. Includes the TGF beta receptors ==Comparison==

Cytokine receptors may be both membrane-bound and soluble. Soluble cytokine receptors are extremely common regulators of cytokine function. Soluble cytokine receptors typically consist of the extracellular portions of membrane-bound receptors. . == Pharmacotherapeutic applications ==

Cytokines and their receptors have a major part in the process of the human body's defense systems, Haematopoiesis, and the proliferation of immune cells. Because of this, many scientists have recognized the potential utilizations that cytokine receptors can have for pharmaceutical treatments. Although cytokine receptors have been studied and documented for decades, there are still ongoing studies that are discovering new functions that pertain to immunology and pharmaceutical applications. Among these applications is the involvement in cytokines and cytokine receptors in treating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. These diseases occur when cytokines and cytokine receptors are dysregulated, leading to damage to the tissues and unregulated inflammation in the body. To combat these types of diseases, scientists have developed multiple cytokine receptor-targeting treatments. These newly developed treatments can combat several inflammatory and immune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and psoriasis. One of the cytokines involved in the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is interleukin-6 receptor. Dysregulation of this receptor occurs when there is a constant increase of the IL-6 cytokine, causing an increase in binding to the receptor, which promotes inflammation. An influx of binding to the IL-6 receptor can cause inflammation to occur rapidly by activating B cells to produce autoantibodies and over-activating fibroblasts, leading to increased tissue inflammation. This dysregulation can also contribute to Regulatory T cell inhibition, causing inflammation in the body to lack regulation. To treat diseases that involve the dysregulation of cytokines, a number of treatments are being used and studied. A common method of treating immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is to give monoclonal antibodies that are specific for the IL-6 receptor. Introducing this type of antibody allows it to bind to the IL-6 receptor, which prevents the binding of IL-6 and its dysregulation of the receptor. Because of the nature of cytokine's pleiotropy, this introduces potential obstacles to utilizing cytokines and cytokine receptors in pharmaceutical and clinical applications. This is because the ability for cytokines to be able to interact with multiple cell types makes it difficult to utilize their characteristics in a clinical setting. Since cytokine receptors play a role in haematopoiesis, cytokine receptors have also been a common topic to study in the treatment of hematopoietic disorders such as anemia. A major cytokine and cytokine receptor in the process of haematopoiesis is erythropoietin and the erythropoietin receptor. Both have important roles in activating and maintaining red blood cell production. Scientists have studied the uses of stimulating erythropoietin and the erythropoietin receptor for the production of red blood cells in diseases such as kidney disease or certain types of anemia. ==See also==