(noun. / SAI-toh-kine /)
By Sara Lowe
What does it mean?
Cytokines can be thought of as the body’s messengers. A cytokine is a type of protein that is secreted by a cell that needs help from another cell. For example, when your body is fighting an infection, cells release cytokines to call immune cells to the site of infection. The cells receiving the cytokine signals will migrate to the signal’s origin to help clear the infection.
Etymology
The origin of the term “cytokine” can be broken into two Greek words.
“Cyto” = cell
“Kine” = to move
Related terms
Subcategories of cytokines: Chemokines, Interferons, Interleukins
Immune response
Inflammation
Infection
Immunomodulating agents
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used
Immunology
Pathology
Physiology
