Table 1.
General features of cytokines.
| Cytokine | Primary Cell Source | Primary Target Cell | Biological Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||
| GM-CSF | T cells Macrophages Endothelial cells Fibroblasts Mast cells |
Bone marrow progenitor cells DC Macrophages NKT cells |
Promotes antigen presentation T cell homeostasis Hematopoietic cell growth factor |
| IL-1 | Monocytes Macrophages Fibroblasts Epithelial cells Endothelial cells Astrocytes |
T cells B cells Endothelial cells Hypothalamus Liver |
Co-stimulation Cell activation Inflammation Fever Acute phase reactant |
| IL-2 | T cells NK cells |
T cells NK cells B cells Monocytes |
Cell growth/ activation |
| IL-3 | T cells | Bone marrow progenitor cells | Cell growth and differentiation |
| IL-4 | T cells | T cells B cells |
Th2 differentiation Cell growth/activation IgE isotype switching |
| IL-5 | T cells | B cells Eosinophils |
Cell growth/ activation |
| IL-6 | T cells Macrophages Fibroblasts |
T cells B cells Liver |
Co-stimulation Cell growth/ activation Acute phase reactant |
| IL-7 | Fibroblasts Bone marrow stromal cells |
Immature lymphoid progenitors | T cell survival, proliferation, homeostasis B cell development |
| IL-8 | Macrophages Epithelial cells Platelets |
Neutrophils | Activation Chemotaxis |
| IL-10 | Th2 T cells | Macrophages T cells |
Inhibits antigen-presenting cells Inhibits cytokine production |
| IL-12 | Macrophages NK cells |
T cells | Th1 differentiation |
| IL-15 | Monocytes | T cells NK cells |
Cell growth/ activation NK cell development Blocks apoptosis |
| IL-18 | Macrophages | T cells NK cells B cells |
Cell growth/ activation Inflammation |
| IL-21 | CD4+ T cells NKT cells |
NK cells T cells B cells |
Cell growth/ activation Control of allergic responses and viral infections |
| IL-23 | Antigen-presenting cells | T cells NK cells DC |
Chronic inflammation Promotes Th17 cells |
| IFN-α | Plasmacytoid DC NK cells T cells B cells Macrophages Fibroblasts Endothelial cells Osteoblasts |
Macrophages NK cells |
Anti-viral Enhances MHC expression |
| IFN-γ | T cells NK cells NKT cells |
Monocytes Macrophages Endothelial Cells Tissue cells |
Cell growth/ activation Enhances MHC expression |
| TGF-β | T cells Macrophages |
T cells | Inhibits cell growth/activation |
| TNF- α | Macrophages T cells |
T cells B cells Endothelial cells Hypothalamus Liver |
Co-stimulation Cell activation Inflammation Fever Acute phase reactant |
DC—dendritic cell; GM-CSF—granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor; IL—interleukin; IFN—interferon; TNF—tumor necrosis factor;TGF—transforming growth factor.