Cytokines and their receptors

Cytokines and their receptors [e.g., interleukin (IL)-1R, T1/ST2 (a member of the IL-1R family), IL-1Ra, IL-6, IL-18, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1] are part of the inflammatory cascade and have been shown to be associated with a worse prognosis in ACS.(1-5)

In addition, certain molecules are known to initiate apoptosis, or programmed cell death [e.g., the Fas ligand, tumor necrosis factor, and the aspartate-specific cysteinyl proteases or caspases] while others may protect against ischemia/reperfusion injury-triggered apoptosis (e.g., heat shock proteins).(6-10)