What are cytokines and explain the function of cytokines in health and disease

Question 1

What are cytokines?

Answer 1

Cytokines are a broad group of signalling proteins that are produced after cellular activation, and act as humoral regulators which modulate the functions of individual cells. Made up of interleukines, tumour necrosis factor, interferons and colony-stimulating factors

Question 2

Interleukins (IL)

Answer 2

Interleukins play a role in the activation and differentiation of immune cells, and growth. They also have pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Primary function is therefore to modulate growth, differentiation and activation during inflammatory and immune responses

Question 3

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)

Answer 3

TNFs are secreted by inflammatory cells. They play important roles in diverse cellular events such as cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and death

Question 4

Interferons

Answer 4

Interferons are signaling proteins, or cytokines, that are produced and released by cells in response to the presence of viruses, bacteria, tumors, or other pathogens

Question 5

Colony-stimulating factors (CSF)

Answer 5

Secreted glycoproteins that bind to receptor proteins on the surface of haematopoietic stem cells, activating intracellular signalling pathways that can cause the cells to proliferate and differentiate into a specific kind of blood cell, such as white blood cells.