Author Description

The "In Focus" series is specifically written for students facing the problem of keeping up to date with fast moving areas of biology and medicine. Each title presents the very latest information in a clear and accessible format, providing an in-depth knowledge of the subject. Cytokines are a group of signalling molecules involved in the communication between cells, including those of the immune system. Cytokine-mediated events occur during the initiation and effector stages of immune responses and the development of haematopoietic cells, and take part in many other physiological responses of the body. Refinement of purification and assay techniques in recent years has led to an explosion of information on cytokine and cytokine receptor structures and genes, along with a clarification of their roles. It is becoming clear that knowledge of cytokine biology is essential to understand how immune reactions develop and how they are controlled. This book focuses on the structures and functions of the best characterized cytokines, and brings together detailed information from many primary sources. It will be of great value to undergraduates in immunology and cell biology courses, postgraduates in the same fields, and newcomers to this area of research.