Anti-inflammatory cytokines

The anti-inflammatory cytokines are a series of immunoregulatory molecules that control the proinflammatory cytokine response. Cytokines act in concer t with specific cytokine inhibitors and soluble cytokine receptors to regul ate the human immune response. Their physiologic role in inflammation and p athologic role in systemic inflammatory states are increasingly recognized, Major anti-inflammatory cytokines include interleukin (IL)-1 receptor anta gonist, IL-I, IL-G, IL-10, IL-11, and IL-13, Specific cytokine receptors fo r IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-18 also function as proinflamma tory cytokine inhibitors, The nature of anti-inflammatory cytokines and sol uble cytokine receptors is the focus of this review. The current and future therapeutic uses of these anti-inflammatory cytokines are also reviewed.