ABSTRACT
The Underlying Genetic Variability Hypothesis ....................................... 320 16.6 Why Study Maternal Cytokine Polymorphisms? ..................................... 320 16.7 Discussion ................................................................................................. 321 16.8 Future Directions ...................................................................................... 322 References .............................................................................................................. 322
Cytokines are a diverse group of soluble regulatory proteins that function as mediators in many physiological processes, including in ammation, immunity, and hemopoiesis. As mediators, they regulate the migration, activation, proliferation, differentiation, and function of the many types of cells involved in in ammatory and immune responses. While essential to maintaining protective immunity, cytokines have been implicated in autoimmune diseases and diseases with a chronic in ammation component (Borish and Steinke, 2003).
