Significance of Cytokine
Cytokines are small proteins vital for cell signaling, primarily produced by immune cells. They play a significant role in regulating inflammation and modulating immune responses, affecting various processes such as hematopoiesis and communication between cells. These signaling molecules are key in the body's reaction to injury or infection and are involved in chronic conditions like autoimmune diseases and cancer progression. Their involvement in inflammatory responses makes cytokines integral to understanding immune system functions and therapeutic strategies.
Synonyms: Immunomodulator, Protein, Interleukin, Growth factor
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The concept of Cytokine in scientific sources
Cytokines are signaling molecules, like granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF), that play a crucial role in stimulating the migration of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), facilitating essential processes in immune response and blood cell production.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) Small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells, and can trigger the coagulation system, but the rise in IL-6 was much later than that in D-dimer.[1] (2) These are signaling molecules that can be secreted by mast cells, influencing the behaviour of other cells in the tumour microenvironment, including tumour cells.[2] (3) Cytokines are non-antibody messenger molecules from a variety of cells of the immune system that stimulate cellular release of specific compounds involved in the inflammatory response, produced de novo in response to an immune stimulus.[3] (4) These are responsible for the killing of tumor cells, and they can penetrate the tumor cells by enhancing the permeability of tumor cells.[4] (5) These are small proteins that are important in cell signaling and play a role in inflammation, and vitexin's effects on these are studied.[5]