Lymphokines are proteins released by white blood cells that regulate immune responses, stimulate growth, and eliminate intruders. They can trigger inflammation and affect different types of immune cells. Interleukins and tumor necrosis factor are types of lymphokines that stimulate growth and eliminate diseased cells. Interferon suppresses virus production. Lymphokine research is included in clinical trials for diseases affecting the immune system. Treatment outcomes can be difficult to predict due to the multiple functions of these proteins.
Lymphokines are proteins released by white blood cells that typically provide information to other immune cells. By binding to the surface of different types of cells, proteins can stimulate their growth; activate in case of infection; eliminate parasites, viruses and fungi; or destroy other cells. Lymphokines and cytokines generally belong to a class of substances that regulate immune responses. They can affect the function of different types of infection- and disease-fighting cells in the body.
The effect of lymphokines on the immune system sometimes triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to inflammation. Cells that produce antibodies can be activated, so the proteins often have an effect on allergic reactions and direct other disease-killing cells to the right areas. There are several types of lymphokines. These include substances called interleukins that stimulate the growth of certain immune cells, as well as tumor necrosis factor, which can target and eliminate diseased cells, kill those that become cancerous, and eradicate viruses and other intruders.
A lymphokine called interleukin-1 is released by macrophages, or cells of the immune system that consume foreign substances. It can trigger different effects and sometimes lead to food allergies, but it usually leads to the production of more cells to fight infections. Interferon is another variety of lymphokines that can suppress virus production. It was one of the first classes of cytokines discovered by researchers. Other types can differentiate immune cells as they mature; one type of interleukin also regulates how immature precursor cells develop.
White blood cells circulating in the blood are sensitive enough to detect a small number of lymphokines. These cells can move to where more proteins are found, while stimulating other responses along the way. Like other cytokines, protein messengers can each be involved in various functions, even those generally attributed to other substances. There are some, in fact, that are often involved in the same process, such as the stimulation of the activity of immune cells in localized areas.
Lymphokine research is often included in clinical trials for many diseases affecting the immune system, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and some cancers. Also used in patients receiving organ and bone marrow transplants, lymphokines are sometimes used as part of individual or combination therapies. There are many types of proteins that signal the immune system, and because some may perform multiple functions, it is often difficult to predict treatment outcomes.
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