Cytokines are also responsible for healing the wound directly via blood cells called endothelium and coagulating enzymes. Foreign organisms are destroyed by leukocytes, while skin cells close the wound by replacing the lost blood vessels and collagen. This process is necessary for reducing inflammation and boosting the healing process for any open wounds inside or outside the body. The difference between the two lies in their function. Chemokines, on the other hand, are a unique type of cytokines that focus on white blood cell migration to damaged or infected body parts.
Chemokines are specially adapted for chemotaxis, also known as the guiding of cell movement towards a target location. Chemokines unleash the might of white blood cells on areas infected with microorganisms as well as cells that may have been compromised by the infection. Chemokines react immediately once pathogens are detected. An infection that reaches other parts of the body might cause complications and a more severe immune response such as fever.
Once the body is rid of the pathogens, the healing process is mediated by the cytokines. The main difference between cytokines and chemokines is that cytokines are small protein substances which are secreted by cells in the body, affecting other cells whereas chemokines are one of the superfamilies of cytokines, containing chemotactic activity.
What are Cytokines — Structure, Types, Function 2. What are Chemokines — Structure, Types, Function 3. What is the difference between Cytokines and Chemokines. Cytokines are substances which are secreted by the cells of the immune system, affecting other cells. Interferon, interleukin and growth factors are cytokines. Cytokines can be either proteins, polypeptides or glycoproteins, and serve as signalling molecules, mediating and regulating the immunity, inflammation as well as hematopoiesis.
Different types of cells in the body are involved in the secretion of cytokines. The naming of cytokines is done depending on the function performed in the body, cells of secretion or target of action. Cytokines exhibit a very high affinity to their receptors. Hence, cytokines can be maintained at picomolar concentrations.
A particular cytokine may be involved in autocrine activity, paracrine activity or endocrine activity. Autocrine activity is the binding of cytokines to receptors of cells, which secreted that particular cytokine. Paracrine activity is the binding of cytokine to the receptors of cells, which have a close proximity to the secreted cells. Endocrine activity is the traveling of cytokines through blood to a distinct part of the body, where it is secreted.
Some cytokines enhance or inhibit the action of other cytokines in complex ways. Cytokines include chemokines , interferons , interleukins , lymphokines, tumour necrosis factor but generally not hormones or growth factors. Chemokines are a family of small cytokines , or signaling proteins secreted by cells. Their name is derived from their ability to induce directed chemotaxis in nearby responsive cells; they are chemotactic cytokines.
Chemokines bind to a specific protein receptor to initiate the cascade reactions. These receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptors and result in activation of small GTPases. This will result in preparing the cells for movement by the development of actin and actin polymerization and by the development of pseudopods and integrins. Depending upon the functionality, chemokines consist of two different types; Inflammatory chemokines and homeostatic chemokines.
Inflammatory chemokines induce inflammation whereas homeostatic chemokines are involved in lymphocyte migration, the development of lymphoid organs such as the spleen and angiogenesis. Cytokines and chemokines are small molecular weight proteins which participate in immune reactions. Chemokines belong to the major group of cytokines but specifically function as a chemotactic cytokine. Thereby, it drives the activation of leukocytes and its migration to the target.
Cytokines and chemokines act similar to hormones in giving rise to a cascade of reactions upon binding to its receptor. This can be taken as the difference between Cytokines and Chemokines.
You can download PDF version of this article and use it for offline purposes as per citation note. Available here 2. Available here 3. Zhang, Jun-Ming, and Jianxiong An. National Library of Medicine, Available here.
0コメント