Volatile Organic Compounds as Mediators of Immunological Signaling

Abstract

It is well established that cells behave as “microsocieties” that need strict coordination in communication. Any breakdown in this regulatory network can lead to pathological conditions, primarily when “miscommunication” occurs within the immune system. The different components of the immune system communicate using an intricate language of cytokines, chemokines and other cell interactions to orchestrate a response. Cytokines contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis and prevention of immunological disorders by tightly regulating the release of pro-inflammatory signals and, in balance with anti-inflammatory cytokine release, assuring a controlled and localized immune reaction. Although cytokines are indispensable for the exact signaling in the immune system, their biological effects often overlap, and individual cytokines have multiple regulatory functions. This chapter focuses on the potential role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as signaling/communication agents that shape different components of the immune system. It also emphasizes the immunomodulatory effects of VOCs, especially on the transcriptional profile of monocytes.