Word parts
What it means
A chemical messenger of the immune systemih-MYOON SIS-tumThe body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.Full entry . Cytokines such as interleukins, interferons and tumor necrosis factor call white cells to an area, cause fever and control the strength of inflammationin-fluh-MAY-shunThe body's protective response to injury or infection, with redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function.Full entry . When far too many are released at once (a cytokine storm), the body's own reaction can damage organs, as in severe infections and sepsisSEP-sisA severe whole-body response to an infection that damages the body's own organs.Full entry . Some drugs block specific cytokines to treat autoimmune diseaseaw-toh-ih-MYOON dih-ZEEZA disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissue.auto- selfimmune protectedFull entry .
At a glance
| Spanish | citocina |
|---|---|
| Also written | cytokines |
Related terms
cyt/o
A word part that means cell.
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.
inflammatory response
The body's protective reaction to injury or infection, which brings blood, fluid and white cells to the area.
macrophage
A large white blood cell in the tissues that swallows and digests germs, dead cells and debris.