What is the Difference Between Cytokines and Interleukins

Cytokines refer to a number of substances, such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors, which are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells while interleukins refer to any of a class of proteins produced by leucocytes for regulating immune responses.

1. What are interleukins and cytokines?
2. What is the function of interleukins?
3. What is the difference between a cytokine and a chemokine?
4. What is the function of cytokines?
5. Are cytokines good or bad?
6. What causes the release of cytokines?
7. Which interleukins are inflammatory?
8. Do interleukins activate B cells?
9. What are cytokines and why are they so important?
10. Are chemokines inflammatory?
11. What is an example of a cytokine?
12. How do cytokines cause inflammation?

What are interleukins and cytokines?

Interleukins (ILs) are a group of cytokines (secreted proteins and signal molecules) that were first seen to be expressed by white blood cells (leukocytes). ... They promote the development and differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, and hematopoietic cells.

What is the function of interleukins?

Interleukins regulate cell growth, differentiation, and motility. They are particularly important in stimulating immune responses, such as inflammation. Interleukins are a subset of a larger group of cellular messenger molecules called cytokines, which are modulators of cellular behaviour.

What is the difference between a cytokine and a chemokine?

Cytokines are signalling molecules produced by cell for specific biological functions. ... Cytokine is a general term used for all signalling molecules while chemokines are specific cytokines that functions by attracting cells to sites of infection/inflammation.

What is the function of cytokines?

Cytokines are a broad group of signalling proteins that are produced transiently, after cellular activation, and act as humoral regulators which modulate the functions of individual cells, and regulate processes taking place under normal, developmental and pathological conditions (Dinarello et al.

Are cytokines good or bad?

Cytokines may be ''good'' when stimulating the immune system to fight a foreign pathogen or attack tumors. Other ''good'' cytokine effects include reduction of an immune response, for example interferon β reduction of neuron inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

What causes the release of cytokines?

Cytokines are made by many cell populations, but the predominant producers are helper T cells (Th) and macrophages. Cytokines may be produced in and by peripheral nerve tissue during physiological and pathological processes by resident and recruited macrophages, mast cells, endothelial cells, and Schwann cells.

Which interleukins are inflammatory?

Inflammatory cytokines include interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-12, and IL-18, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Do interleukins activate B cells?

These interleukins play important roles in B cell development (IL-7), survival/proliferation of B cells, and isotype switching (IL-4 and IL-6), and regulation of the immune response (IL-10).

What are cytokines and why are they so important?

Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. When released, they signal the immune system to do its job. Cytokines affect the growth of all blood cells and other cells that help the body's immune and inflammation responses.

Are chemokines inflammatory?

Some chemokines are considered pro-inflammatory and can be induced during an immune response to recruit cells of the immune system to a site of infection, while others are considered homeostatic and are involved in controlling the migration of cells during normal processes of tissue maintenance or development.

What is an example of a cytokine?

Cytokines include Interleukins, Lymphokines, Monokines, Interferons (IFN), colony stimulating factors (CSF), Chemokines and a variety of other proteins.

How do cytokines cause inflammation?

During the earliest stages of a virus infection, cytokines are produced when innate immune defenses are activated. The rapid release of cytokines at the site of infection initiates new responses with far-reaching consequences that include inflammation.