Cytokines, Eicosanoids, Nitric Oxide as Effector Molecules Against Parasitic Flagellates

Abstract

Protozoology enriches what is a currently very fruitful field of science—the study of cytokines. The bottom-dwelling Ciliate Euplotes raikovi was chosen for the study of pheromone structure and biology (Luporini et al., 1994). The authors isolated seven pheromones and found that cytokine-like substances appeared at the early stages of evolution (Luporini et al., 1994). The ciliate pheromones are considered to be self-recognition signals that primarily induce cell responses through the binding of autocrine cell receptors.