Cytokines in Salmonella infections.

Cytokines are intercellular signal molecules involved in the immune pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Cytokine mediated pathological alterations are mainly attributable to an imbalance in cytokine production. Experimental and clinical studies have documented the fact that Salmonella infections induce a Th1 dependent immune response and interferon-gamma and interleukin-12 are central to its genesis. Salmonella endotoxins, flagellins and porins are among the chief mediators of cytokine release. Lectin binding proteins, Toll-like receptors, transcription factors and various cells also contribute to this process. Serum and local (fecal) cytokine determination in salmonellosis provides evidence on the immune events occurring after antigen challenge. They might also serve as clinical and prognostic markers of disease severity and outcome. Recent studies are focused on the effect and interaction between pro-inflammatory (interleukin-1, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10).