Cytokines

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-007231",
  "term": "Cytokines",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.\n\n2. A class of soluble glycoproteins which act nonenzymatically through specific receptors to regulate immune responses. Cytokines are derived from both immune and non-immune cells and are intercellular mediators that differ from hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands.\n\n3. A substance that is made by cells of the immune system. Some cytokines can boost the immune response and others can suppress it. Cytokines can also be made in the laboratory by recombinant DNA technology and used in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.",
  "references": [
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus",
    "National Cancer Institute Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/cytokines/"
}