Table 1.

Overview of cytokines and correlated systems addressed at the second Kitasato meeting 2010.

Cytokine systems and cytokine/signalling cascades	Specific comments
Soluble and membrane-bound TNF	Distinct roles in autoimmunity versus risk of infection
	Immunomodulatory effects by TNF blockade on CD4+CD25+ Treg cells
TNFR1 and FDCs	Potential crucial role in autoimmunity
STAT1/3 balance	IL-10 resistance can be modulated by TNF and IFN
IL-17	Counter regulation of Th17 versus Treg cells and emerging role of TH17 cells in providing B-cell help
IL-33	Potential role in resistance to intestinal nematode infection; proinflammatory effects in asthma and arthritis
IL-35	Probably immunosuppressive cytokine with potential to expand Treg cells and suppresses Th17 cells
IL-6/IL-6 receptor/glycoprotein 130	Additional role of this cytokine/signalling system in juvenile arthritis as well as other systemic autoimmune disorders. Role of IL-6/IL-6 receptor in glucose metabolism
Cytokine/chemokine effects on osteoblast/osteoclast activity	TNFα, IL-1, IL-17A, IL-6, BAFF/BLyS, APRIL, C-C chemokine receptor 2
BAFF/BLyS, APRIL, TNF, IFNα	Role in systemic autoimmunity (that is, systemic lupus erythematosus)
GM-CSF receptor blockade	First trial data in human
Blockade of IL-17A	First trial data in rheumatoid arthritis patients
IL-21	Role in autoimmunity and potential target of therapy
IL-22	Potential to polarise Th17 cells into immunomodulatory IL-22-producing T cells
IL-10	Additional functions of IL-10-producing B cells for immunomodulation
IFNα	Current and new aspects of using IFNα in the treatment of Behçet's disease

APRIL, a proliferation-inducing ligand; BAFF, B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family; BLyS, B-lymphocyte stimulator; FDC, follicular dendritic cells; GM-CSF, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor; STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription; TNFR1, TNF receptor 1; T_reg, T-regulatory.