Immune Therapy: Cytokines

Immune chemicals may hold hope for new treatments in HIV

January 2005     View PDF     En español

Immune cells communicate through chemical messages. For example, one chemical might direct cells to where they are needed to fight off an infection. Another may make cells reproduce, cloning themselves to build an army to combat a specific infection. These chemicals are called cytokines.

Scientists have been trying to decipher the chemical language of the immune system to learn how to harness it for use in the fight against AIDS. This publication provides a general picture of cytokine therapy to date—approved therapies, those currently in large studies, those entering studies in HIV soon, and a glimpse at tried and failed approaches.