Preface

The human body consists of a diversity of tissues, organs and systems that all perform their functions in accordance with their own inherited characteristics and properties. However, a stable harmony is needed for these structures to collaborate with each other as a united biological system.

In this regard, the immune system has a pivotal role to orchestrate, regulate and modulate all of the body's biological processes and systems. The immune system is a complicated two-part network that encompasses cells, molecules, proteins and glycoproteins. The building blocks of these components collaborate with each other as well as other structures in the body in a harmonic and stable pattern. Hence, the homeostasis of different systems and metabolic processes is provided by molecules recruited by the immune system.

Among a wide range of immunological recruited molecules, cytokines have a considerable position in this regard. Cytokines are involved in every immune and non-immune system and structure. Each cytokine is able to induce its own production as well as that of other cytokines and simultaneously activate the production of other molecules. Cytokines play their role in the forms of autocrine, paracrine and endocrine.

Interestingly, cytokines link to their specific receptors and activate the related signaling pathways. In this regard, cytokines recruit different cells and molecules from both the immune and non-immune systems. This process results in homeostasis.

This complicated network of cytokines is important for harmonizing between different processes and structures in the human body. As such, any mutations at the gene level of the related cells and molecules may lead to a wide range of disorders and diseases. Therefore, cytokines and related molecules can be recognized as important for treatment of immune and non-immune disorders and diseases.

Our knowledge regarding the importance of immune system goes back two millennia. Today, by the progression of cellular and molecular biology, bioinformatics, computational biology and chemistry, we know a wide range of immunological processes and mechanisms.

The book contains 9 chapters.

The introductory chapter provides a background about historical evidences regarding immunology, immune system and cytokines.

Chapter 2, "*In vitro* Cell-Based Assays for Potency Testing of Anti-TNF-α Biological Drugs"; Chapter 3, "Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha: A Major Cytokine of Brain Neuroinflammation"; and Chapter 4, "TNFR2 and Regulatory T Cells: Potential Immune Checkpoint Target in Cancer Immunotherapy" focus on the role and importance of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in human body.

Chapter 5, "Innate Immunity and Neuroinflammation in Neuropsychiatric Conditions Including Autism Spectrum Disorders: Role of Innate Immune Memory"; Chapter 6, "Cytokines in Scar Glial Formation after an Acute and Chronic Spinal Cord Injury"; Chapter 7, "The Genetic Aspects of Behçet's Disease: Role of Cytokine Genes Polymorphisms"; and Chapter 8, "IL-21 Signaling and Induction of Cytokine Expression in Human Leukemia Cells and Monocytes" present information about the association of cytokines and different disorders and diseases.

Finally, Chapter 9, "Cytokines' Involvement in Periodontal Changes," examines the role of cytokines in dentistry.

I appreciate all the authors who contributed to this book for their great information and collaboration.

I would like to give special thanks to my colleague Dr. Márió GAJDÁCS from Hungary, who collaborated with me to prepare the introductory chapter. I am also grateful to Author Service Managers Romina Skomersic and Dajana Pemac and Commissioning Editors Lucija Tomicic-Dromgool and Martina Usljebrka Kauric at IntechOpen for their excellent collaboration and management during the production of this valuable book.

**Payam Behzadi**

**1**

**Chapter 1**

Introductory Chapter:

*Márió Gajdács and Payam Behzadi*

**1. The historical background of immunology**

first immunologist in the ancient world [1–4].

by Mithra, the ancient Iranian God of Sun) [1, 2, 5–7].

of preventive medicine [11].

Cytokines - The Diamonds and

When we are reading or investigating the topics of cellular and molecular immunology including cytokines, our unconscious mind suddenly goes back to the Iranian "Immunologist King," Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus. Pontus is a Greek term referring to the Sea; but conceptually – in accordance with geographic evidences of that time period – it refers to the Black Sea. Indeed, he is known as the

Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus (reigned 120–163 BC), the son of Mithridates

Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus is the founder of the *Mithridatism* theory which refers to the phenomenon of acquired immunity against poisons, by using determined doses of the poison to expose the individual to the agent little by little [8]. Hence, he used cocktails of antidotes against currently known poisons every day. The potion of Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus was a mixture of 54 currently known poisons which was termed "**Antidotum Mithridaticum.**" His popular poisonous potion was consumed by people from all walks of life for about two millennia [6, 9, 10]. This process is very similar to the act of vaccination and may be considered as a preliminary form

Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus was a genius because he was not only an exceptional expert in immunization and toxicology, but he could also talk in 22–25 different languages. Moreover, he was interested in medicine and pharmacology; therefore, Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus has written several treatises regarding the characteristics of "**materia medica**" together with the related cases. These invaluable Mithridatic treatises were translated into Latin between 95 and 25 BC by Lenaeus, which were recognized as unique and effective prescriptions in Rome [12]. He was a researcher in the fields of immunology, toxicology, pharmacology, and medicine [4, 11, 12]. Due to this fact, the Iranian king, Mithridates VI Eupator of

Pontus is a shining star in the treasure of science and history of Iran.

V Euergetes, was proud over his Iranian heritage and ruled the Pontus region (Asia Minor, The Great Persia Empire Region; Present-day Turkey) throughout the Hellenistic and Mithridatic Kingdoms. Despite accepting Hellenism, he always considered himself as an Iranian king from royal Achaemenid lineages. Indeed, his Iranian origin went back as far as Darius I and Cyrus the Great (The King of Kings). His name Mithridates depicts the God of Light (Mithradatha: sent (given)

Pearls of Biological Systems

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

## **Chapter 1**
