Lymphokine

Lymphokine is a type of cytokine secreted by a type of lymphocyte (a subtype of white blood cell) that affects other cells. Lymphokines have many roles, including the modulation of immune response and the mediation of cell-to-cell communication.

Overview

Lymphokines are a subset of cytokines, which are proteins that act as messengers between cells. They are produced by lymphocytes in response to an antigen, virus, or bacteria. Lymphokines have the ability to modulate the immune response by signaling between different cell types, influencing the behavior of other cells, and regulating the balance between humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity.

Types of Lymphokines

There are several types of lymphokines, including Interleukin-2, Interleukin-3, Interleukin-4, Interleukin-5, and Interferon-gamma. Each of these has a specific role in the immune response.

Interleukin-2

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a lymphokine that promotes the growth and differentiation of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells.

Interleukin-3

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a lymphokine that stimulates the differentiation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells into myeloid progenitor cells or, in conjunction with other factors, into various lineages of hematopoietic cells.

Interleukin-4

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a lymphokine that induces differentiation of naive helper T cells to Th2 cells. It is a key regulator in humoral and adaptive immunity.

Interleukin-5

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is a lymphokine that stimulates B cell growth and increases immunoglobulin secretion. It is also a key mediator in eosinophil activation.

Interferon-gamma

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a lymphokine that is critical for innate and adaptive immunity against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and for tumor control.

See also

• Cytokine
• Interleukin
• Interferon
• Immune system
• White blood cell