Cytokines, Inflammation and Pain
Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins (~5–20 kDa ) important in cell signaling . They are key players in the regulation of the immune response , particularly during infections, inflammatory joint, kidney, vessel and bowel diseases, or neurological and endocrinological autoimmune diseases . Cytokines include: Lymphokine Cytokines made by lymphocytes Monokine Cytokines made by monocytes and macrophages Chemokine Cytokines with chemotactic activities Interleukin (ILs) Cytokines made by one leukocyte and acting on other leukocytes Interferons (IFNs) Interferons are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses . Tumour necrosis factors but not hormones or growth factors . Unlike hormones, cytokines are not stored in glands as preformed molecules, but are rapidly synthesized and secreted by different cells mostly after stimulation. Figure 1. Cytokines act in networks or cascades. They...