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 >

Almagul Kurmanova^1,2, Gulfairuz Urazbayeva³, Laura Kayupova², Damilya Salimbaeva², Nurzhamal Dzhardemalieva⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.2, pp. 21-27, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2024.0497

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the dynamics of cytokines and growth factors during pregnancy with and without preeclampsia. The study included 168 pregnant women at risk of hypertensive disorders. The levels of biomarkers of all pregnant women were studied at 12-16 weeks, 28-30 weeks and 36-38 weeks. These included cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-4) and growth factors (placental growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor). All pregnant women were divided into two groups: 124 patients with preeclampsia and 44 without preeclampsia (control group). In patients with preeclampsia,… More >

Małgorzata Gryka-Marton, Anna Grabowska, Dariusz Szukiewicz

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 38-47, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2024.0498

Abstract The blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of a unique system of brain microvascular endothelial cells, capillary basement membranes, and terminal branches (“end-feet”) of astrocytes. The BBB’s primary function is to protect the central nervous system from potentially harmful or toxic substances in the bloodstream by selectively controlling the entry of cells and molecules, including nutrients and immune system components. During neuroinflammation, the BBB loses its integrity, resulting in increased permeability, mostly due to the activity of inflammatory cytokines. However, the pathomechanism of structural and functional changes in the BBB caused by individual cytokines is poorly understood.… More >

Zhenlu Li^#, Chao Yue^#, Shengzhong Hou, Xing Huang, Zihe Wang, Weiming Hu, Huimin Lu^*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 28-37, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ ecn.2024.0495

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, associated with a high risk of metastasis and mortality. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is highly expressed in multiple types of tumour tissues and may be associated with the growth of PC cells. In this study, we aimed to assess the role and possible mechanisms of MALAT1 in PC progression. Methods: Expression of MALAT1 was studied by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in PC tissues. The dual-luciferase assay was performed to validate binding between MALAT1 and miR-141-5p… More >

Francisco Javier Alarcón-Aguilar, Israel Domínguez de la Mora, Angeles Fortis-Barrera

European Cytokine Network, Vol.35, No.4, pp. 48-55, 2024, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2024.0499

Abstract Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with pleiotropic effects that plays a significant role in the transition from the innate immune response to adaptive response. IL-6 is of interest due to its proinflammatory action, however, it also exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, supporting metabolism and suppressing associated diseases, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. The IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein in the plasma membrane of only some cell types, such as macrophages, neutrophils, hepatocytes, and T cells. The function of IL-6R requires another transmembrane glycoprotein of 130 kDa (gp130) which, in contrast… More >

Jo Van Damme^1,$, Ghislain Opdenakker^2,$, Sam Van Damme³, Soffe Struyf¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.34, No.1, pp. 1-9, 2023, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2023.0484

Abstract Polyclonal antisera from patients have been at the basis of the description of autoimmune diseases and today monoclonal antibodies are widely used in the therapy of cancer and many inflammatory diseases. How antisera and antibodies in combination with traditional in vitro and in vivo biological test systems have been instrumental reagents for the discovery of new cytokines is illustrated here for interleukin-1, -6 and -8. Furthermore, widely used immunological detection/quantification systems, such as ELISAs and multiplex assays, based on the use of either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, are often fraught with misinterpretations, because the results are affected More >