Cytokines

Cytokines are low-molecular weight secreted proteins (~5–20 kDa) that are important
in cell signaling. Their release has an effect on the behavior of cells around
them.Cytokines include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokinesand tumor
necrosis factors but generally not hormones.They are produced by a broad range of cells,
including immune cells like macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and mast cells.
They act by binding to cell surface receptors and at very low concentration.

A particular cytokine may bind to receptors on the membrane of the same cell that
secreted it, exerting autocrine action; it may bind to receptors on a target cell in close
proximity to the producer cell, exerting paracrineaction; in a few cases, it may bind to
target cells in distant parts of the body, exerting endocrineaction (Figure).Cytokines
regulate the intensity and duration of the immune response by stimulating or inhibiting
the activation, proliferation, and/ or differentiation of various cells and by regulating the
secretion of antibodies or other cytokines.

Figure: Cytokines action

Cytokines exhibit the attributes of pleiotropy, redundancy, synergy, antagonismand

cascade induction(Figure).A given cytokine that has different biological effects on

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different target cells has a pleiotropic action. Two or more cytokines that mediate similar
functions are said to be redundant; redundancy makes it difficult to ascribe a particular
activity to a single cytokine.Cytokine synergism occurs when the combined effect of two
cytokines on cellular activity is greater than the additive effects of the individual
cytokines.In some cases, cytokines exhibit antagonism; that is, the effects of one cytokine
inhibit or offset the effects of another cytokine.Cascade induction occurs when the action
of one cytokine on a target cell induces that cell to produce one or more additional
cytokines.

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 Figure: Cytokine attributes of pleiotropy, redundancy, synergy, antagonism and cascade
induction

Table: Functional groups of selected cytokines

Some cytokines of innate immunity

Cytokine Secreted by Targets and effects

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) Monocytes, Enhances B proliferation and
macrophages, DC, NK maturation, NK cytotoxicity, induces
cells APP
Tumor Necrosis TH, macrophages, DC, Induces APP, neutrophil activation,
Factor-α (TNF-α) NK cells tumor cytotoxicity
Interleukin 12 (IL-12) macrophages, Induces proliferation and IFN-γ
dendritic cells production by TH1, promotes TH1
differentiation
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) TH2, macrophages, Induces APP and enhances T cell
dendritic cells proliferation
Interferon α(IFN-α) Leukocytes Inhibits viral replication and enhances
expression of MHC class I molecules
Interferon β(IFN-β) Fibroblasts Inhibits viral replication and enhances
expression of MHC class I molecules

Some cytokines of adaptive immunity

Cytokine Secreted by Targets and effects

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) TH 1 T and B cell proliferation, promotes
NK cell activation and proliferation
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) TH2, NK cells, Mast Promotes Th2 differentiation ; isotype
cells switch to IgE
Interleukin 5 (IL-5) TH2, Mast cells Eosinophil activation and generation
TGF-β T cells, macrophages, Inhibits lymphocytes proliferation,
other cell types promotes isotype switch to IgE
Interferon (IFN -γ) TH1, Tc, NK Inhibits viral replication, activates
macrophage and inhibits proliferation
of TH2

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