CYTOKINES, INFLAMMATION, AND AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES

The understanding of cytokines is in its infancy, but it appears that overproduction or deficiency of these intracellular mediators may cont ribute to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as insulin-depende nt diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. As the complexities of cytokine actions and interactions are unraveled, therapeutic blockade or upregulation may be possible.