Figure 1. Different modes of mRNA regulation in inflammation.

Diagram representing differential control of feedback inhibitor mRNAs and cytokine mRNAs in resting versus activated macrophages. In the resting state, feedback inhibitor mRNAs are being transcribed but translationally repressed; they become derepressed in the early phase of activation. By contrast, most cytokine mRNAs, which are generally unstable, are not expressed in resting macrophages, and their steady-state levels increase quickly upon activation.