this may helpful for the beginners. Cytokines involved in many pathways, Soon it will be uploaded.

1. Cytokines
Muthubharathi B C
MSc.,Biotechnology
Alagappa University
Karaikudi

2. • A protein that mediates complex interaction among inflammatory
cells, hematopoietic cells and lymphoid cells
• Low molecular weight
• Regulatory or globular protein
• Autocrine – a particular cytokines bind to receptors of same cell
• Paracrine – binds to receptors of close proximity to producer cell
• Endocrine – binds to receptors of target cell found in distinct part of
the body

3. • Secreted by lymphocytes, WBC and some other cells
• Regulate the intensity, duration of immune response by stimulating or inhibiting the
activation, proliferation or differentiation of various cells
• Regulate the antibody production
• It exhibits attributes of the pleiotrophy, antagonism, reductancy, synergy, cascade
reaction which help for cellular activity and work in a coordinated way
• Pleiotrophic action – same cytokines have different biological role in different target
cells
• Reductant – two or more cytokines have similar activity
• Synergism – combined activity of several cytokines for high action on cells. Additive
function of individual are less than combined activity
• Antagonism – effect of one cytokines inhibits the effect of other cytokines

5. Terms based on source
• Lymphocytes – lymphokines
• Moncytes or macrophages – monokines
• Leukocytes – interleukines ( 1-25)
• Chemokines – affect chemotaxis, low molecular weight, inflammatory
reaction
• Cytokines secretion has short lived
• Secretion occur in a discrete stimuli
• Molecular mass is less than 30KDa
• TH cells, macrophages are major source of cytokines

7. Family - 4 types
• Hematopoietin family
• Interferon family
• Chemokine family
• Tumor necrosis factor family

8. Biological function
• Cytokines from TH cells and macrophages activates the entire
interacting cells
• Development of cellular and humoral immune response
• Role in inflammatory reaction
• Regulation of hematopoiesis
• Control in cellular proliferation, differentiation and wound healing
• They act in an antigen non specific manner