Cytokines are low molecular weight glycoproteins involved in the regulation of the immune system, and more than 100 cytokines have hitherto been identified in humans. Cytokines similar to those found in humans have also been found in fish. The innate immune response of fish can be examined by using cytokines as markers. We developed a multiplex reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay to analyze the expression of various cytokine genes. Using this assay, we were able to investigate the fish immune response when it had been activated by immunostimulants. The involvement of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β, in the immune system of fish was revealed following administration of an immunostimulant.

中文翻译：

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鱼类细胞因子：目前的研究和应用

细胞因子是参与免疫系统调节的低分子量糖蛋白，迄今已在人体中鉴定出 100 多种细胞因子。在鱼类中也发现了与人类相似的细胞因子。可以使用细胞因子作为标记来检查鱼的先天免疫反应。我们开发了一种多重逆转录-聚合酶链反应测定法来分析各种细胞因子基因的表达。使用这种测定，我们能够研究鱼被免疫刺激剂激活时的免疫反应。在施用免疫刺激剂后，揭示了炎症细胞因子（如白细胞介素-1β）在鱼类免疫系统中的参与。