摘要：

Cytokines are a group of potent polypeptide proteins that promote cell growth, differentiation, and activation. They can be produced by a variety of cells. Those that are produced by peripheral mononuclear blood cells are called interleukins, and there are currently 17 described. There are three other cytokines that are also produced by leukocytes, which are functionally related to this group of interleukins. One is interferon gamma (IFNγ), and the others are tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNFα and β). For the purpose of this review, these interleukins can be divided into those that are largely responsible for immunoregulation, that is, lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation (e.g., IL-2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10), and those that are responsible for inflammatory response (e.g., IL-1, 6, 8, TNFα). They can be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease by acting directly on tissues or indirectly by activation of inflammatory and autoreactive cells. The biologic activity of a cytokine in vivo is a net effect determined by its concentration and the presence of specific inhibitory molecules.

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