Cytokines

Cytokines are a class of active protein molecules secreted by cells that perform signaling and whose main chemical components are proteins or glycoproteins. Both immune and non-immune cells can secrete cytokines in response to certain factors, but different cells or subsets of cells secrete different cytokines, which exert regulatory effects by binding to membrane receptors and acting on target cells for signal transduction. This chapter focuses on the biological properties of cytokines, cytokine receptors, important cytokines secreted by different CD4T cell subsets, immunomodulatory effects of cytokines, and the relationship between cytokines and diseases.