1. A small protein released by cells that acts as a signaling molecule to regulate immune response, inflammation, and cell growth.
Usage: technical; biology/medicine

Examples

• Cytokines are essential for coordinating the immune system's response to infection.
• When the body detects a virus, immune cells release cytokines to alert other cells to the threat.
• Interferon is a type of cytokine that helps fight viral infections.
• Researchers study cytokines to understand how inflammation develops in chronic diseases.
• The cytokine response can sometimes be too strong, causing excessive inflammation.
• Cytokines like TNF-alpha play a key role in regulating immune cell communication.