The effect of a particular cytokine on a given cell depends on the cytokine, its extracellular abundance, the presence and abundance of the complementary receptor on the cell surface, …

Jan 3, 2023 · Think of a cytokine as a key and the receptor on the receiving cell like a lock. When the cytokine (key) enters the cytokine receptor (lock), the receiving cell receives a message …

Dec 19, 2025 · Cytokine, any of a group of small, short-lived proteins that are released by one cell to regulate the function of another cell, thereby serving as intercellular chemical messengers.

Aug 5, 2025 · The term “cytokine” refers to a broad class of molecules, including interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factors, colony-stimulating factors, chemokines, and growth factors.

This action may occur in an autocrine (acts on same cell), paracrine (acts on nearby cell) or endocrine (acts on distant cell; not the normal manner for cytokine responses) manner.

Cytokine storm, or cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in severe COVID-19 cases results from a dysregulated immune response, marked by delayed production of type-I and type-III IFNs and …

Although leukocytes are the major source of innate cytokine responses, parenchymal cells are increasingly recognized as also producing innate inflammatory cytokines and interacting with …

Aug 4, 2025 · The balance of cytokine activity is important for maintaining overall health. When functioning correctly, cytokines enable the immune system to effectively combat pathogens …

A key aspect of cytokine biology is that an individual cytokine can elicit varying responses in many different types of cells. This pleiotropic property is amplified by cytokine redundancy.

A type of protein that is made by certain immune and non-immune cells and has an effect on the immune system. Some cytokines stimulate the immune system and others slow it down.