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Cytokine

Cytokine

(Science: biochemistry) small proteins or biological factors (in the range of 5-20 kD) that are released by cells and have specific effects on cell-cell interaction, communication and behaviour of other cells.

Not really different from hormones, but the term tends to be used as a convenient generic shorthand for interleukins, lymphokines and several related signalling molecules such as TNF and interferons.

Generally growth factors would not be classified as cytokines, though tgf is an exception. Rather an imprecise term. Chemokines are a subset of cytokines.


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Re:

... of infection switch to CD45RO+ memory phenotype if they encounter their specific MHC:peptide complex. Depending on the TCR signaling, prevaling cytokine environment, and cell-cell interactions, the memory cells can be divided to central memory cells or effector memory cells, which in turn can ...

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by biohazard
Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:35 am
 
Forum: Human Biology
Topic: T cell differentiation
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white blood cell

all WBC secrete some kind of cytokine....

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by MrMistery
Fri May 30, 2008 9:28 pm
 
Forum: Human Biology
Topic: white blood cell
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Re: How does a simple organism "know" to perform an action?

... entities are based on chemistry (or if we go nitpicking, physics). A very common way to "know" things is to bind a molecule (e.g. a cytokine, a hormone or a nutrient) on a receptor specific for the given substance. This then triggers further actions via e.g. phosphorylation of subsequent ...

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by biohazard
Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:22 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How does a simple organism "know" to perform an action?
Replies: 2
Views: 475

Sugar Allergy

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by DrDahlman
Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:20 pm
 
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Starvation

... there is a degree of variation in your experiment - the serum batches are not identical, and their composition is not fully identified. E.g. the cytokine profile of a given serum batch can have profound differences when compared to another batch, even from the same manufacturer. Furthermore, ...

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by biohazard
Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:06 pm
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Starvation
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