Final answer:
Pathogenic mechanisms for inhibiting cytokines include the suppression of immune response, alteration of cytokine production, and therapeutic boosting of immune cell activity with anti-cancer cytokines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immune response to infection involves a complex set of events, one of which is the production of cytokines that mediate the inflammatory response to pathogens. Some mechanisms used by pathogens to diminish the effects of these immune responses include the production of immunosuppressive molecules. In addition, host responses may inhibit excessive inflammation through the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10.
Pathogenic mechanisms to inhibit cytokines include the alteration of cytokine production, such as Y. pestis inhibiting TNFα, which is a crucial pro-inflammatory cytokine. It also exploits IL-10 to decrease the production of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. Another mechanism is the suppression of the immune response, a tactic used by some viruses more subtly than the outright destruction caused by HIV.
Certain therapies involve bolstering weak immune responses using anti-cancer cytokines such as interferons and interleukins. This can lead to the shrinkage of tumors through the enhanced activity of immune cells like tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) when treated with cytokines.