《生命科学》 2010, 22(5): 437-443
摘 要：摘 要：细胞因子(cytokine)是分子量较小的分泌型蛋白质，是宿主免疫应答过程中一类重要的细胞间信号传递分子。它的转录后调控(post-transcriptional regulation)机制在协调机体促炎与抗炎细胞因子的水平，从而在调节免疫应答的起始和终止中起到非常重要的作用。细胞因子转录后调控机制主要包括：mRNA在胞浆中的定位、翻译起始及mRNA的降解等多个方面。近年来，许多研究已致力于阐明这些转录后调控机制如何共同调节免疫应答过程中细胞因子的表达水平。该文详细阐述了目前细胞因子转录后调控的研究进展，使人们对细胞因子的转录后调控机制及其生物学功能有更深入地了解和认识，另一方面将有助于以此为靶点预防、诊断及治疗免疫性疾病。
关键词：细胞因子；转录后调控；ARE；microRNA；RNA颗粒
Abstract: Abstract: Cytokines are small， mostly secreted proteins that mediate the host immune responses as vital mediators. Post-transcriptional control of cytokine production appears to play a critical role in coordinating the expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines to turn immune and inflammatory responses on and off. It is achieved by the regulation of mRNA cytoplasmic localization， translation initiation and decay. Studies have begun to identify how these various mechanisms are integrated and regulated to determine the amount of cytokine production in cells involved in immune responses．The aim of this article is to review some recent advances in our understanding of cytokines?post-transcriptional regulation processes， and speculation of these mechanisms will identify targets for the precaution， diagonosis and therapy of immunologically mediated diseases.
Key words: cytokine; post-transcriptional regulation; ARE; microRNA; RNA granule
