Table 1.

Cancer-related cytokines.

Cytokine	Main source	Function	Ref.
IL-6	Macrophages Endothelial cells	Participates in acute inflammation and promote tumorigenesis	66, 67, 68
IL-10	Th2 cells Monocytes	Inhibits activated monocytes to produce cytokines Inhibits the production of Th1 cytokines	69
TGF-β	Monocytes T cells	Regulates the differentiation of Treg and Th17 cells Inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of most immune cells and the production of cytokines Promotes the healing of damaged tissue	61,63
TNF-α	Monocytes Macrophages DCs	Pathogenic mediator of several autoimmune diseases; chronic exposure to TNF-α promotes tumor growth by mediating activation-induced cell death of effector T cells	70
IL-2	Th1 cells	Activates T cells, NK cells, and macrophages	71
IL-12	DCs Macrophages	Activates NK cells and induces Th1 differentiation	72,73
IL-15	Activated myeloid cells	Activates T cells and NK cells	74
IFN-γ	Activated T cells NK cells	Activates macrophages and MHC expression Induces the differentiation of Th1 cells and inhibits Th2 cells	75
GM-CSF	Macrophages T cells	Induces the proliferation and differentiation of DCs Activates macrophages	76,77