Lymphokines

Lymphokines are a subset of cytokines that are produced by a type of immune cell known as a lymphocyte. They are protein molecules that play a critical role in the body's immune response by regulating cell growth and differentiation. Lymphokines are involved in a variety of biological processes, including cell signaling, inflammation, and immune response.

Production and Function

Lymphokines are produced by lymphocytes in response to antigens, substances that the immune system recognizes as foreign. The two main types of lymphocytes that produce lymphokines are T cells and B cells. T cells produce lymphokines such as interleukin 2 and interferon gamma, while B cells produce lymphokines such as interleukin 4, interleukin 5, and interleukin 6.

Lymphokines function by binding to specific receptors on the surface of cells, triggering a series of events that lead to the cell's response. This can include the proliferation of immune cells, the activation of phagocytes to destroy foreign substances, or the stimulation of antibody production by B cells.

Clinical Significance

Due to their role in the immune response, lymphokines have been implicated in a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. For example, overproduction of certain lymphokines can lead to excessive inflammation and tissue damage, as seen in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. On the other hand, underproduction of lymphokines can result in a weakened immune response, making the body more susceptible to infections.

In the field of oncology, lymphokines are being studied for their potential use in cancer immunotherapy. For instance, interleukin 2 has been used to treat certain types of cancer, such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, by boosting the body's immune response against cancer cells.

See Also

• Cytokines
• Immune response
• T cells
• B cells