title: So, what exactly is a cytokine?
abstract: Discussions about various physiological and pathological processes commonly debate the role of mediators known as cytokines. Also, several drugs are analogues of cytokines or are aimed at blocking the actions of specific cytokines to modify diseases processes. So, increasingly, healthcare professionals need to have a working knowledge of cytokines. With this in mind, here, we briefly describe the types and actions of cytokines, some aspects of their role in certain diseases and the use of drugs to augment or block their action.
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha