Inflammatory Process and Role of Cytokines in Inflammation: An Overview

Abstract

Inflammation is the first line of defense in invertebrates and vertebrates as it helps in fight against tissues injury or foreign invaders. Uncontrolled or excessive inflammation is destructive for normal homeostatic processes of body. Most of the modern human diseases such as asthma, allergy, autoimmune diseases, hepatitis, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and glomerulonephritis are linked directly or indirectly to different inflammatory processes. Conventionally, different steroidal and non steroidal drugs i.e., antibiotics are used to treat inflammatory disorders. Theses synthetic drugs have many side effects on the health such as gastrointestinal problems, stomach ulcers, dizziness, liver or kidney problems etc. Cytokines play an important role in the induction and suppression of inflammation. Cytokines are diverse form of proteins that act proand anti-inflammatory cytokines. The main component of immunity is IL-1. IL-6 cytokine play its role in regulation of metabolic reactions. The activity of various leukocytes is suppressed by IL-4 and IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokines) that triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review paper provides an overview of inflammation, its associated factors, causes and treatment and role of cytokines in inflammation.