Question

How do cytokine barriers provide innate immunity in humans?

Answer 1

Hint: Immunity is the capability of an organism to resist the infection from the harmful microorganism. Cytokine Barriers are a form of innate immunity that plays an important role in preventing viral replication and responds to many types of antigens and not just one specific type of antigen.

Complete answer:
Innate immunity is accomplished by providing different types of barriers to the entry of the foreign agent or any pathogen into our body. It is present at the time of birth and is a non-specific type of defense.
Cytokines are cell-signaling low molecular weight extracellular proteins synthesized by immune cells. Cytokines are produced by many cells like the cells involved in defense mechanisms like macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells as well as by the endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Cytokines indirectly act by stimulating an inflammatory response.
Cytokine barriers include interferons, a type of protein secreted by the virus- infected cell which protects the non- infected cells from further viral infection. Interferons will act by inhibiting the viral replication as they stimulate the synthesis of enzymes that inhibit the synthesis of proteins required for the replication of the virus. - Cytokines sometimes trigger other cytokine release and also lead to chronic inflammation and other immune responses like a fever. - It also plays a role in anti- inflammatory pathways that can be used for treatment. - Cytokines are also used in the treatment of various diseases. For example, alpha- interferons are used in the treatment of hepatitis C, interleukin factor-2 used in the treatment of cancer.

Note:
- Interferons control the viral infection but don’t kill the virus.
- Cytokines include interferons, tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, chemokines, etc.
- Each cytokine has specific cell receptors.
- Natural killer cells are lymphocytes of innate immunity, which provides defense against viral infection by secreting cytokines.