The Use of Proteins and Cytokines in Medicine

Infectious diseases have always been one of thetherapeutic strategies. They are very important
biggest health concerns in the world. Microbialto our body, but not just to gain muscle mass or
strains have become more resistant to antibiotics,stay in shape. Damaged tissues can be rebuilt with
people have weaker immune systems because ofthe help of proteins and our day to day activity
their life choices, international traffic andrequires the use of proteins as well.
globalization favour the spread of deadly diseasesProteins, like cytokines, represent a form of
and the threat of bioterrorism are all factors intreatment for different diseases. Studies have
the growing health concern and the need for newshown, for example, that proteins extracted from
and improved therapeutic and prophylacticmammal liver, especially goat liver, are able to
strategies.lower blood levels of TNF (Tumor Necrosis
Immune modulatory molecules are the hope of aFactor). They can be used to treat and even cure
healthier future. Apart from classic antibiotics,multiple illnesses, such as septic shock, rheumatoid
cytokines and its inhibitors represent a promise inarthritis and even multiple sclerosis.
antimicrobial therapy or immune adjuvant, forProteins, mainly cytokines, can also be used in
vaccination purposes.veterinary medicine, especially for cattle, pigs and
Cytokines are the signaling glycoproteins andhorses. They can be used to diagnose and treat
proteins category used in cellular communication.certain diseases that can appear in animals. This
Cytokines are essential to the development oftype of protein cannot only serve as treatment
the adaptive and innate immune response, as wellfor certain diseases, but it can also monitor them.
as in the proper functioning of the immuneCytokines can serve as vaccine adjutants but
response.they can also have a significant role in
Cytokines, whether in the form of transgenes orchemotherapy.
recombinant proteins exert antimicrobial effectThere are numerous diseases that have no cure
through memory development or by dampeningand there are even more others for which the
undesired immune responses that result fromavailable treatment is ineffective. Most diseases
infection. Cytokines enhance immune activationmust be discovered in early stages in order to be
and dampen undesired inflammatory responses.successfully treated and even then, there is a
They can therefore be considered the cure ofchance that the disease may come back.
the future.Existing treatments are mostly effective, but we
Over the last twenty years, many clinical trialsface new challenges everyday and need to find
and experiments have been conducted in order tonew ways of treatment for both old and new
find successful cytokine and protein therapies. Fordiseases. Proteins in general, and cytokines in
example, hepatitis C is successfully being treatedparticular, represent a solid, successful treatment,
using cytokines, and many other cytokines andas well as a hope for future improved treatment
inhibitors are yet to be tested and used to curestrategies. The full benefic effects of proteins are
horrible infectious diseases.yet to be discovered.
Other types of proteins are also the future of