Cytokines

Cytokine is 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.

What are Cytokines?

The term "cytokine" is derived from a combination of two Greek words - "cyto" meaning cell and "kinos" meaning movement. Cytokines are cell signalling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma.

Cytokine Receptors

Cytokine Effects

Cytokine Nomenclature

Cytokine Classification

Inflammatory Cytokines and Depression

Latest Cytokines News and Research

Can broccoli sprouts help with insulin resistance? New review offers clues

A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition examines how carotenoids and bioactive compounds in Brassicaceae microgreens may influence obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Small human trials involving broccoli sprouts have reported improvements in selected metabolic markers, but larger, longer-term studies are needed to establish their clinical benefits.

29 Oct 2026

Researchers identify protein that drives chronic inflammation in psoriasis

In new preclinical studies, researchers have identified a protein that propels a vicious cycle of skin inflammation in psoriasis.

28 Oct 2026

Mutant protein variant explains dominant inheritance of genetic immunodeficiency

New research shows how a mutant form of a protein named STAT3 causes a genetically dominant immunodeficiency.

27 Oct 2026

Researchers identify molecular target to improve pancreatic cancer treatment

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers. One reason for its resistance to therapy is the dense tissue surrounding the tumor, which acts as a protective barrier and suppresses the immune response.

23 Oct 2026

Zylidac Bio and Prolific Machines partner to scale Prolific’s next-generation biologics manufacturing platform to GMP production

Zylidac Bio, a fully integrated biologics CDMO within the Zydus Lifesciences Limited (Zydus) group, and Prolific Machines, a biotechnology company advancing biologics development and manufacturing through integrated optogenetics-enabled solutions delivering breakthrough yields, superior on-target quality, and precise process control, today announced a partnership to scale Prolific's platform from early development through GMP production.

From Zylidac Bio LLC 22 Oct 2026

Semaglutide and teduglutide reduce immune-driven gut injury in mice

Researchers found that gut-derived GLP-1 and GLP-2 signaling helped protect mice against T cell-induced intestinal injury, with GLP-1R primarily regulating inflammation and GLP-2R supporting intestinal repair. Semaglutide and teduglutide, administered separately or together, reduced acute intestinal damage in mice lacking intestinal proglucagon, suggesting potential avenues for investigating treatments for immune-mediated gut injury.

21 Oct 2026

Does adding yeast to whey protein help muscle recovery after exercise?

The yeast-whey protein blend shows potential in aiding muscle recovery after exercise-induced damage, yet its effectiveness compared to whey alone is uncertain.

16 Oct 2026

Understanding how neutrophil signaling pathways disrupt the human intestinal barrier

The intestinal mucosal barrier separates the host from the gut lumen and is essential for systemic homeostasis.

14 Oct 2026

Polymeric nanomedicine strategies improve solid tumor immunotherapy outcomes

Solid tumors are not merely collections of malignant cells but complex ecosystems comprising tumor cells, stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix (ECM).

9 Oct 2026

Existing drug could target neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's patients

Inflammatory conditions in the brain, including traumatic brain injury and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's could be targeted with an existing drug thanks to new research that shows it can work in brain cells.

5 Oct 2026

Could the gut be priming the body for a more severe stroke?

Gut bacteria may prime immune cells to worsen stroke damage

2 Oct 2026

Could the Mediterranean diet protect the brain through the gut?

A narrative review finds that the Mediterranean diet may support brain health through gut microbiome, immune, metabolic, and barrier-related pathways, but direct human evidence that microbiome remodeling mediates neuroprotection remains limited. The proposed mechanisms involve microbial metabolites, reduced inflammatory signaling, stronger intestinal and blood-brain barrier function, and possible effects on processes linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

27 Sep 2026

Specialized immune cells bridge the nervous and immune systems

A collaborative team led by Professor Jie Zhou at Tianjin Medical University School of Basic Medicine and Professor Qiang Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital published a comprehensive review in Volume 2 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation on September 8, 2026.

25 Sep 2026

Daily vitamin C may benefit pre-cancerous blood disorder patients

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that supports immune function, promotes wound healing and protects cells from molecular damage.

21 Sep 2026

POTS identified in nearly two-thirds of Long COVID patients

Dizziness, fatigue, brain fog and a racing heart. They're commonly associated with Long COVID, but new Adelaide University research suggests that for some people, these symptoms may also be indications of Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a debilitating and difficult-to-diagnose condition.

16 Sep 2026

Cold plunges may boost your mood, but the evidence is still on thin ice

A Molecular Psychiatry review examined evidence linking cold exposure with mood and mental health outcomes, alongside proposed roles for catecholamines, the HPA axis, and immune-inflammatory pathways. Early studies report short-term mood improvements and physiological changes, but clinical evidence remains limited, and the proposed mechanisms have not been established as drivers of lasting psychiatric benefits.

16 Sep 2026

Cannabis-derived nanovesicles showed early antitumor potential in mice

Researchers developed a Cannabis sativa hairy root culture system that produced stable plant-derived nanovesicles capable of promoting dendritic cell maturation and activating T-cell responses through TLR2- and TLR4-associated signaling. Oral administration also restored selected immune responses in immunosuppressed mice and suppressed tumor growth in an E.G7 lymphoma model, providing preliminary evidence for their immunomodulatory and antitumor potential.

15 Sep 2026

Early studies hint that ketones may affect pathways linked to PTSD

An integrative review found that ketogenic therapy may influence metabolic, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter pathways implicated in PTSD, with animal studies and small human studies reporting early signs of symptom improvement. Human evidence remains limited to very small cohorts, case reports, and pilot studies, and controlled trials have yet to establish clinical efficacy.

11 Sep 2026

Gut microbiome may reveal inflammation and future disease risk better than age

Gut microbiota composition explained more variation than chronological age in nearly all inflammatory cytokines and most physiological measures examined, with specific microbial profiles linked to markedly different patterns of inflammation across adulthood. People with the Bacteroides 2 enterotype showed an inflammaging-like profile decades earlier than other groups and had a higher risk of subsequent disease, while a high-diversity microbiota profile was associated with lower inflammation and reduced disease incidence.

9 Sep 2026

Could scorpion venom inspire new treatments for liver disease?

Scorpion venom peptides show promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects, with experimental evidence suggesting that some candidates could target pathways involved in chronic liver disease and viral hepatitis. The review highlights Kv1.3-blocking peptides and antiviral compounds as potential therapeutic leads, while emphasizing that limited hepatic efficacy data, poor pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges must be overcome before clinical translation.

8 Sep 2026