Sri Lestari Utami^1,2, Mohammad Hidayat³, Diana Lyrawati⁴, Loeki Enggar Fitri^5,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.4, pp. 74-83, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0507 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: The expression of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene promoter and its variations in postmenopausal women of Javanese ethnicity remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine IL-6 promoter polymorphisms at positions -174G/C, -572G/C, -597A/G, and -634C/G and their associations to osteoporosis status in Javanese postmenopausal women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an elderly integrated service post in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Among 699 screened individuals, 66 postmenopausal women fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bone mineral density was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and osteoporosis status was defined based on T-score values. IL-6 promoter polymorphisms… More >

Eva G. Palacios-Serrato¹, Karen Medina-Abreu¹, Gabriela Velasco-Loyden², Norma Angélica Lira-Rodríguez¹, Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.4, pp. 64-73, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0506 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a small ubiquitin-like protein that can be conjugated to its target proteins through an enzymatic cascade known as ISGylation, thereby altering their function. Elevated levels of free ISG15 (non-conjugated) and ISGylation are observed in several cancer types, including medulloblastoma (MB) a malignant pediatric cerebellar tumor categorized into four molecular subgroups: Wingless, Sonic Hedgehog, Subgroup 3 (G3), and Subgroup 4 (G4). However, ISG15 gene expression in MB remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the ISG15 protein levels, the expression of the ISG15 and ISGylation system, and interferon gamma signaling… More >

Yayun Wu^1,2,3,#, Qi Xia^1,#, Dancai Fan¹, Ya Zhao^1,3, Lijuan Liu^1,3, Shigui Deng^1,3, Ruizhi Zhao^1,2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 52-63, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0505 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: Psoriasis is a challenging immune-mediated dermatological disorder with an urgent need for effective clinical therapeutics, while astilbin has shown considerable efficacy in suppressing psoriasis progression, its underlying mechanisms are not fully clarified. This study aimed to systematically investigate the anti-psoriatic effects of astilbin and to elucidate its potential mechanisms of action. Methods: A psoriasis-like mouse model was established via cold water swimming, dietary restriction, and topical application of 5% propranolol emulsion, followed by daily treatment with low- (25.6 mg/kg), middle- (51.2 mg/kg), or high-dose (76.8 mg/kg) astilbin for 6 consecutive days, with evaluations including… More >

Enrique Oropeza-Maetínez¹, Eva G. Palacios-Serrato¹, Marina Macías-Silva², Angeles C. Tecalco-Cruz^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 38-51, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0503 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Background: Glioblastoma is a lethal primary brain tumor that is therapeutically challenging due to its rapid progression. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling is altered in glioblastoma. Moreover, proteolytic enzymes, known as proteases, have been linked to the invasive growth of cancerous cells. In this study, we aimed to identify a glioblastoma-associated protease group and to determine its potential connection with IFN-γ signaling. Methods: Using cancer expression databases, we analyzed the differential expression of 35 proteases in glioblastoma and healthy brain tissue, and the relevance of their deregulation to patient survival. We also explored correlations between IFN-γ signaling… More >

Hung-Yu Lin^1,2,†, Hsing-Ju Wu^2,3,†, Pei-Yi Chu^1,4,5,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 24-37, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0504 - 28 February 2026

Abstract Immunotherapy has demonstrated limited efficacy in immunologically “cold” breast cancers characterized by absent T-cell infiltration and inadequate interferon signaling. The purpose of this work is to propose and articulate a mechanistic and therapeutic framework in which mitochondrial stress is deliberately harnessed to convert immunologically “cold” breast tumors into “hot,” T cell–inflamed, immunotherapy-responsive lesions. This review synthesizes emerging evidence positioning mitochondrial stress as a strategic lever to transform these immune-excluded tumors into inflamed, therapy-responsive lesions. We examine how mitochondrial dysfunction triggers cytosolic release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), a potent damage-associated molecular pattern that activates the cGAS-STING… More >

Karim Dorgham¹, Omaira Da Mata Jardin¹, Clara Mellot^1,2, Suzanne Mouries-Martin^1,2, Maude Calixte^1,2, Ngoc Khanh Nguyen¹, Raphael Lhote², Julien Haroche^1,2, Fleur Cohen-Aubart^1,2, Micheline Pha², Miguel Hié², Matthias Papo², François Chasset^1,2,3, Pascale Ghillani-Dalbin⁴, Hans Yssel¹, Zahir Amoura^1,2, Guy Gorochov^1,4, Alexis Mathian^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 15-23, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0502

Abstract Background: Type I interferons, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are expressed at very low levels under physiological conditions. In this study, we focused on IFN-beta (IFN-β) for its potential use as a biomarker of SLE activity and compared three different technologies for its quantification in the serum of healthy donors and patients with SLE. Methods: A total of 93 serum samples from healthy donors and 463 serum samples from lupus patients were tested using either ELISA, digital ELISA based on Single Molecule Array… More >

Fu Zhang^1,2, Miao Lin^1,2, Yuancong Jiang³, Fangjian Zhou^1,2,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 1-5, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0500

Abstract Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a key member of the IL-1 family, plays a significant role in inflammation and cancer. Its classic receptors, ST2 and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP), are predominantly expressed in immune cells such as T helper 2 (Th2) cells and mast cells. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of IL-33 in breast cancer, demonstrating its ability to exert dual functional effects by modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses within the tumour microenvironment. However, the precise molecular mechanisms linking IL-33 to breast cancer pathogenesis and its potential as a target for molecularly targeted therapies More >

Jo Van Damme¹, Stijn Van Damme², Soffe Struyf¹, Ghislain Opdenakker³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 6-14, 2025, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2025.0501

Abstract Since their discovery, chemotactic cytokines or chemokines have been intensively studied for about half a century. Chemokines originate from tissue cells, leukocytes, blood platelets and plasma. Here, we review a number of seminal findings on plasma chemokines within an historical and international context. These aspects include how induction and purification protocols led to the discovery of a new family of mediators, named chemokines, on the basis of protein sequencing; how molecular cloning techniques facilitated discoveries of additional family members on the basis of conserved protein structures; how blood plasma and platelets were used as a More >

Shira Cohen Rubin^1,*, Nadav Zacks¹, Ori Wand², Ophir Freund³, Evgeni Gershman³, Anna Breslavsky², Rotem Givoli-Vilensky¹, Anat Tzurel Ferber², Natalya Bilenko^1,4, Amir Bar-Shai³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.1, pp. 13-19, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2024.0494

Abstract COVID-19 vaccination and acute infection result in cellular and humoral immune responses with various degrees of protection. While most studies have addressed the difference in humoral response between vaccination and acute infection, studies on the cellular response are scarce. We aimed to evaluate differences in immune response among vaccinated patients versus those who had recovered from COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study in a tertiary medical centre. The vaccinated group included health care workers, who had received a second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine 30 days ago. The recovered group included adults… More >

Yan Li^1,2,3,#, Jimin Zhang^1,2,3,#, Xiaoyan Liu⁴, Kumar Ganesan⁵, Guixiu Shi^1,2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.1, pp. 1-12, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2024.0496

Abstract Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects various systems in the body, resulting in symptoms such as dry eyes and mouth, pain, and fatigue. Inflammation plays a critical role in pSS and its associated complications, with chronic inflammation being a common occurrence in patients with pSS. This review of the literature highlights inflammatory markers that could serve as indicators to predict disease progression in pSS. Results: Laboratory markers are frequently and significantly increased in pSS patients, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complement proteins, S100 proteins, cytokines (IFNs, CD40 ligand, soluble CD25, More >