Inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseaseand cancer

摘要

Inflammatory cytokines are highly inducible small glycoproteins or regulatoryproteins of low molecular weight secreted by different cell types. They regulateintercellular communication and mediate a number of physiological functions inthe human immune system. Numerous prospective studies report that inflammatorycytokines strongly predict coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heartfailure and other adverse cardiac events. Inflammatory cascade is believed to bea causative factor in the development of atherosclerotic process. Severalaspects of atherogenesis are accelerated by cytokines. This article provides anoverall overview of current understanding of cytokines in various cardiovascularevents. Besides, inflammatory cytokines trigger cellular events that can inducemalignancy and carcinogenesis. Elevated expression of several cytokines such asinterleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor-α,macrophage migration inhibitory factor and transforming growth factor-β areinvolved in tumor initiation and progression. Thus, they exert a pivotal role incancer pathogenesis. This review highlights the role of several cytokines invarious events of tumorigenesis. Actually, this article summarizes thecontributions of cytokines in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease andcancer.