The Open Cell Signaling Journal

2011, 3 : 20-26
Published online 2011 April 14. DOI: 10.2174/1876390101103010020
Publisher ID: TOCELLSJ-3-20

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Cytokine Deprivation and Cell Death

Paul G. Ekert, * and Anissa M. Jabbour
Children’s Cancer Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, 3052, Australia

* Address correspondence to this author at the Children’s Cancer Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Flemington Rd, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Tel: +613 93455823; Fax: +613 93454993; E-mail: paul.ekert@mcri.edu.au

ABSTRACT

It has long been known that many cell types are dependent on specific cytokines that signal proliferation, regulate differentiation and suppress apoptosis. A detailed picture of the structure of several cytokine receptors has added to our understanding of the molecular mechanism of receptor activation. An explosion of knowledge of apoptosis pathways and the ways in which the Bcl-2 family of proteins function has deepened the understanding of the effector arm of the programmed cell death pathway. The challenge is to uncover the molecular links between these two pathways. In this article, we will try to examine what is known of the intersections between cytokine signalling pathways and apoptosis pathways, with particular reference to receptor signalling by the haematopoietic cytokines Interleukin-3 (IL-3) and Granulocyte-Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF).

Keywords:

Interleukin, IL-3 receptor, BH3-only proteins, Bim, puma, kinase, JAK, AKT.