Cytokines: an overview.
Cytokines are a broad, heterogeneous group of proteins and polypeptides that regulate intercellular communication. Examples of cytokines include interleukins, interferons, colony-stimulating factors, and a variety of growth factors. The preparation of large quantities of highly purified recombinant cytokines has provided a basis for their biological and physicochemical characterization. The pleiotropic biological effects of these factors are expressed through binding to specific, high-affinity cell-surface receptors. Although they are different in amino acid sequence, cytokines have a number of biological and physicochemical properties in common.
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Schering-Plough Research, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D007372:Interferons / Q000502:physiology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*
D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D007378:Interleukins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D007372:Interferons