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 Nomenclature

Cytokine Classification

Cytokine Effects

Inflammatory Cytokines and Depression

Latest Cytokines News and Research

Long COVID linked to heavier periods and symptom flare-ups during menstruation

Researchers found that long COVID is linked to heavier, longer, and more irregular bleeding without disrupting ovulation. Symptom severity also peaks around menstruation, likely driven by hormonal and immune changes.

17 Sep 2025

Can changing food texture reduce how much we eat? Dutch study investigates

A new randomized controlled trial protocol from the Netherlands will test whether altering the texture, and thus the eating rate, of ultra-processed foods can reduce daily energy intake. The study will investigate how sensory properties, such as food hardness, affect metabolism, appetite, and microbiome composition.

16 Sep 2025

Triple negative breast cancer exploits lymph node niches to block immune defense

In almost all solid tumors - i.e. cancers with a solid tissue structure - the detection of tumor cells in the lymph nodes is considered a decisive marker for the progression of the disease.

16 Sep 2025

Blocking immune brake protein boosts defense against Aspergillus fumigatus

People are exposed to millions of fungal spores every day, even potentially harmful ones like those from Aspergillus fumigatus.

11 Sep 2025

Citrus flavonoid hesperidin lowers oxidative damage in cell experiments

Researchers tested hesperidin extracted from citrus peels and found it reduced inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in cultured immune cells. The findings highlight hesperidin’s strong in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, warranting further in vivo research.

11 Sep 2025

Researchers reveal why no level of air pollution is safe for respiratory health

A review in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows how particulate matter damages the lungs through oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune disruption. It links air pollution to asthma, COPD, lung cancer, infections, and millions of premature deaths, with no safe exposure threshold.

9 Sep 2025

What diet pattern worsens inflammatory bowel disease?

Researchers compare the different effects of pro-inflammatory dietary patterns on inflammatory bowel disease severity.

9 Sep 2025

Oncolytic viruses integrated with immunotherapy for next-generation cancer treatment

The integration of oncolytic viruses (OVs) with immunotherapy is reshaping the landscape of tumor treatment, offering new hope for patients.

5 Sep 2025

Targeting complement with an inhibitor may prevent preterm birth and protect the baby’s brain

A research team at the Medical University of South Carolina reports in Cells that the complement system, part of the body's natural immune defenses, is a key driver of inflammatory responses that contribute to fetal brain inflammation and preterm birth, the latter of which is the leading cause of complications and death in newborns.

4 Sep 2025

Penn State researchers reveal new function of antibody-producing cells

The body has an intricate system to defend against infections where each type of immune cell plays a distinct role. Now, a study led by researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine has uncovered a new function of the immune cells that are known for making antibodies.

3 Sep 2025

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals new players in liver regeneration

The liver is remarkable for its ability to regenerate after injury, yet when this process fails, acute liver failure (ALF) carries devastating outcomes.

2 Sep 2025

Research reveals molecular details of ME/CFS and long COVID

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) have heightened innate immune responses to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. While these responses are essential to fight infection, they can cause damage when unchecked.

1 Sep 2025

Scientists discover molecular brake that limits T cell attack on tumors

In a discovery that could expand the array of current cancer immunotherapy treatments, scientists at Harvard Medical School have identified a new molecular brake that hinders the ability of T cells to attack tumors.

1 Sep 2025

Can oral bacteria make heart disease worse?

The presence of viridans streptococci in coronary plaques indicates a role in atherosclerosis, potentially influencing heart disease outcomes.

1 Sep 2025

Babies fed blueberries show fewer allergy symptoms and boosted immune balance

Daily blueberry powder given to infants during complementary feeding modestly influenced allergic symptom resolution and shaped immune biomarker–microbiota associations. Findings suggest early diet may play a role in immune development, though results are preliminary and exploratory.

31 Aug 2025

How plant compounds could target Alzheimer’s disease from multiple angles

This review highlights how dietary polyphenols modulate Alzheimer’s disease biology through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and multi-target mechanisms, supported by in-silico docking analyses. Despite promise, challenges in bioavailability and brain delivery remain key hurdles to clinical translation.

31 Aug 2025

Stress in mothers causes eczema in newborn mice through immune cell changes

Maternal prenatal stress in mice disrupts fetal mast cell programming, triggering eczema-like skin inflammation and heightened sensitivity after birth. The findings reveal how corticosterone-driven immune and neuronal changes in utero may set the stage for pediatric eczema risk.

28 Aug 2025