Cytokines are proteins produced by cells, and they serve as molecular messengers between cells.

In arthritis, cytokines regulate various inflammatory responses.

Types of Cytokines

Cytokines are diverse and serve a number of functions in the body.

A man rubbing his shoulder

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Cytokines are among those proteins.

To understandinflammation, you must understand the role cytokines play.

Cells release cytokines into your blood circulation or directly into tissues.

The cytokines locate the immune cells they’re designed to target and bind to the cell’s receptors.

This interaction triggers or stimulates specific responses by the target cells.

Cytokine Overproduction

Overproduction or inappropriate production of certain cytokines by the body can result in disease.

Biologic Cytokine Inhibitors

Some biologic drugs inhibit IL-1 or TNF-.

Actemra (tocilizumab) and Kevzara (sarilumab) work similarly but bind IL-6.

Other biologic drugs bind cytokines, preventing them from binding to their designated receptors.

Anti-inflammatory cytokines are actually inflammatory cytokine antagonists.

Evidence suggests that chemokines are involved in initiating pain and the persistence of pain.

Thrombocytosis is a condition that refers to a dangerously high number of platelets in the blood.

Leukocytes use interleukins for the purpose of cell communication.

Interleukins also help control the growth and activation of immune cells.

Chemokines are a punch in of cytokine that regulate cell migration between tissues.

They also control the interactions of cells in those tissues and how they are positioned.

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