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The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases
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The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 1215

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hung-Jen Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
Interests: virus–host interaction; signal transduction; cancer virotherapy; vaccine development; cytokines; anti-tumor immunity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce a new Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences, entitled “The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases”.

Cytokines are key regulators of immune responses, playing essential roles in both health and disease. These signaling molecules mediate inflammation, tissue repair, and immune homeostasis, but their dysregulation contributes to various pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases, infections, and cancer. In the tumor microenvironment, cytokines can either promote or suppress tumor progression by modulating immune cell activity. Recent research highlights their role in shaping anti-tumor immunity, influencing responses to immunotherapy, and mediating tumor-induced immune evasion. Moreover, cytokines are critical in pain modulation and neuroimmune interactions, particularly in the context of anesthesia and perioperative medicine.

This Special Issue aims to explore the diverse functions of cytokines, from fundamental biology to clinical applications, shedding light on their therapeutic potential in disease management. We welcome original research and reviews that advance our understanding of cytokine signaling in health and disease, with a particular focus on translational and clinical implications. However, since International Journal of Molecular Sciences is a journal of molecular science, pure clinical studies are not suitable for our journal.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Hung-Jen Liu and assisted by Dr. Yi-Ying Wu (National Chung Hsing University).

Dr. Hung-Jen Liu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cytokines
  • immune regulation
  • disease management
  • signaling pathways
  • translational research
  • clinical applications

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1009 KiB  
Article
Circulating Cytokines Mediate the Protective Effect of Physical Activity on Cardiovascular Diseases: A Mendelian Randomization Mediation Analysis
by Yulin Sun and Yining Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4615; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104615 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 185
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major public health concern globally, being one of the leading causes of illness and death across populations. While physical activity is widely recognized as a protective factor against these diseases, the exact biological mechanisms that explain this relationship [...] Read more.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major public health concern globally, being one of the leading causes of illness and death across populations. While physical activity is widely recognized as a protective factor against these diseases, the exact biological mechanisms that explain this relationship are still not fully understood. This study utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method to investigate the potential role of circulating cytokines in mediating the effects of physical activity on major CVD outcomes, including coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Our primary MR analysis revealed an inverse association between physical activity and IHD risk. Moreover, a two-step MR mediation approach identified IL10RB (Interleukin-10 receptor subunit beta) as an intermediate mediator, explaining about 6.65% of the observed contribution of physical activity to IHD. These results indicate that physical activity may mitigate CVD risk through modulation of immune pathways, particularly via IL10RB signaling. Our findings underscore the significance of cytokine networks in mediating the cardiovascular benefits of exercise and suggest potential therapeutic strategies for CVD risk reduction through immune system modulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases)
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11 pages, 1882 KiB  
Article
Povidone-Iodine and Hydrogen Peroxide Combination Improves the Anti-Biofilm Activity of the Individual Agents on Staphylococcus aureus
by Le Wan, Jaishree Sankaranarayanan, Chan-Young Lee, Hongyan Zhou, Taek-Rim Yoon, Jong-Keun Seon and Kyung-Soon Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 4390; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094390 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), poses significant challenges in healthcare settings due to its ability to form biofilms on various surfaces. These biofilms enhance bacterial survival and increase resistance to conventional treatments, complicating infection control efforts. This study evaluated the [...] Read more.
Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), poses significant challenges in healthcare settings due to its ability to form biofilms on various surfaces. These biofilms enhance bacterial survival and increase resistance to conventional treatments, complicating infection control efforts. This study evaluated the efficacy of combined povidone-iodine (PVP-I) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to disrupt pre-formed S. aureus biofilms. A series of assays—including crystal violet staining, colony-forming unit (CFU) enumeration, gene expression analysis, and confocal laser scanning microscopy—were performed to assess the effects of each treatment individually and in combination. The combined treatment resulted in significantly greater reductions in biofilm biomass and viable bacteria compared with either agent alone. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of key biofilm-associated genes (icaA, icaB, icaD, icaR, and clfA), suggesting interference with biofilm stability and maintenance. While formal synergy quantification was not conducted, the observed effects suggest a potentially synergistic or additive interaction between the two agents. These findings support the use of dual antiseptic strategies as a promising approach to biofilm eradication and highlight the potential clinical utility of dual antiseptic strategies. However, we underscore the need for further optimization and safety evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases)
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23 pages, 5802 KiB  
Article
Lidocaine Modulates Cytokine Production and Reprograms the Tumor Immune Microenvironment to Enhance Anti-Tumor Immune Responses in Gastric Cancer
by Yi-Ying Wu, Ming-Shan Chen, I-Chun Chen, Feng-Hsu Wu, Tsai-Ling Liao, Hsiao-Wei Wen, Brent L. Nielsen and Hung-Jen Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3236; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073236 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, has been shown to modulate immune responses. This study examines its effects on cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) from gastric cancer patients. PBMCs from healthy donors and TIICs [...] Read more.
Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, has been shown to modulate immune responses. This study examines its effects on cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) from gastric cancer patients. PBMCs from healthy donors and TIICs from gastric cancer patients were treated with lidocaine. Cytokine production was assessed using flow cytometry and cytokine assays, with a focus on IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35 levels. Cytotoxicity against primary gastric cancer cells (PGCCs) was also evaluated. Lidocaine inhibited IFN-γ production in CD8+ PBMCs and IL-12 in CD14+ PBMCs while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35) in CD4+CD25+ and CD14+ cells. In TIICs, lidocaine enhanced IFN-γ and IL-12 production in CD8+ and CD14+ cells while reducing IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35 levels, promoting an M1-like phenotype in macrophages. Mechanistically, lidocaine enhanced IFN-γ production in sorted CD8+ TIICs through G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and increased IL-12 production in sorted CD14+ TIICs via the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. Lidocaine also increased IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity in CD8+ TIICs via NF-κB activation. Importantly, lidocaine did not affect the viability of PBMCs, TIICs, or PGCCs at concentrations up to 1.5 mM. Lidocaine reprogrammed the tumor immune microenvironment, enhancing anti-tumor immune responses, suggesting its potential to modulate immune functions in gastric cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Cytokines in Health and Diseases)
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