[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Immunology](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/) › [Cytokines and molecules](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/#a-molecules) › Cytokines: the table to know [Immunology](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/) · [Cytokines and molecules](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/#a-molecules) # Cytokines: the table to know - Topic Cytokines are small proteins that immune cells use to talk to each other: they switch inflammation on or off and tell other cells what to become. Updated 2026-11-01 ## Key points - Fever and acute phase: IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α from macrophages; IL-6 drives CRP from the liver. - Th1 axis: IL-12 (dendritic cells, macrophages) → Th1 and NK cells → IFN-γ → activated macrophages. - Th2 axis: IL-4 (IgE switch), IL-5 (eosinophils), IL-13 (mucus, airway hyperreactivity). - Th17 axis: IL-23 maintains Th17 cells → IL-17 → neutrophils; defence against Candida. - Brakes: IL-10 and TGF-β, made by regulatory T cells, among others. - Before any anti-TNF (and other cytokine blockers) latent tuberculosis is screened for. ## What it is Cytokines are small secreted proteins (interleukins, interferons, TNF, TGF-β and the chemokines) that act on nearby cells through specific surface receptors. Each one is defined by who makes it, which receptor it uses and what it does; most exam questions ask exactly those three things. Many are now targets of biologic drugs, so the same table explains rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma and Crohn disease therapy. ## Key facts - Cytokines act over short distances; chemokines are the subgroup that pulls cells along a gradient (chemotaxis). - The same cytokine can have several effects (pleiotropy) and different cytokines can share an effect (redundancy). - Many cytokine receptors signal through JAK kinases and STAT factors, which is why JAK inhibitors block several cytokines at once. - A cytokine storm is an excessive, body-wide release (for example in sepsis or cytokine release syndrome). ## Main cytokines: who makes them, what they do and where they matter in the clinic | Cytokine | Main source | Main effect | Clinical link | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | IL-1 | Macrophages, monocytes | Fever, endothelial activation, recruits immune cells | Autoinflammatory fevers, gout flares; anakinra, canakinumab | | IL-2 | Activated T cells | T-cell proliferation; keeps regulatory T cells alive | Transplant immunosuppression; aldesleukin in some cancers | | IL-4 | Th2 and T follicular helper cells | Th2 differentiation, IgE class switch | Allergy, asthma, eczema; dupilumab blocks its receptor | | IL-5 | Th2 cells, ILC2 | Eosinophil maturation and survival | Eosinophilic asthma; mepolizumab, benralizumab | | IL-6 | Macrophages, T cells, fibroblasts | Acute phase (CRP), fever, plasma cells, Th17 | Rheumatoid arthritis, cytokine release syndrome; tocilizumab | | IL-8 (CXCL8) | Macrophages, epithelium, mast cells | Brings neutrophils to the site | Pus-rich inflammation; marker in neonatal sepsis studies | | IL-10 | Regulatory T cells, macrophages | Turns off macrophages and inflammatory cytokines | Defects cause severe colitis; some microbes exploit it | | IL-12 | Dendritic cells, macrophages | Th1 differentiation, IFN-γ from NK and T cells | Defects in its axis: mycobacterial infections; ustekinumab | | IL-13 | Th2 cells, ILC2 | Mucus, airway hyperreactivity, remodelling | Asthma, atopic dermatitis; tralokinumab | | IL-17 | Th17 cells, γδ T cells, ILC3 | Neutrophil recruitment, antimicrobial peptides | Psoriasis, spondyloarthritis; secukinumab | | IL-23 | Dendritic cells, macrophages | Keeps Th17 cells expanding | Psoriasis, Crohn disease; guselkumab | | TNF-α | Macrophages (also T cells, others) | Inflammation, granuloma upkeep, septic shock | RA, IBD, psoriasis; anti-TNF after latent TB screening | | IFN-γ | Th1, NK and CD8 T cells | Activates macrophages, raises MHC class II | Basis of IGRA test; used in chronic granulomatous disease | | IFN-α/β | Virus-infected cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells | Antiviral state in neighbouring cells, NK activation | Lupus interferon signature; IFN-β in multiple sclerosis | | TGF-β | Regulatory T cells and many other cells | Suppresses immune responses, induces Tregs, fibrosis | With IL-6 it drives Th17 cells; airway remodelling | ## Memory aid Think of three teams: the alarm crew (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) lights the fever, the specialists (IL-12, IL-4, IL-23) choose Th1, Th2 or Th17, and the firefighters (IL-10, TGF-β) put it all out. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## Which three cytokines are the classic endogenous pyrogens? IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α, mainly from activated macrophages; IL-6 also drives CRP and other acute-phase proteins in the liver. ## Which cytokine drives IgE class switching and which one drives eosinophils? IL-4 drives the switch to IgE (with IL-13 helping); IL-5 drives eosinophil maturation and survival. ## What links IL-12 and IFN-γ? IL-12 from dendritic cells and macrophages pushes Th1 and NK cells to make IFN-γ, which in turn activates macrophages to kill intracellular microbes such as mycobacteria. ## Which test is needed before starting an anti-TNF drug? Screening for latent tuberculosis (tuberculin skin test or interferon-γ release assay), because blocking TNF can reactivate it. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/immunology/cytokines-the-table-to-know/) ## Related - [Interleukin-1](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/interleukin-1/) - [Interleukin-2](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/interleukin-2/) - [IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 (the Th2 cytokines)](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/il-4-il-5-and-il-13/) - [Interleukin-6](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/interleukin-6/) - [IL-8 and the chemokines](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/il-8-and-the-chemokines/) - [IL-10 and TGF-β (the brakes)](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/il-10-and-tgf/) - [IL-12 and IL-23](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/il-12-and-il-23/) - [Interleukin-17](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/interleukin-17/) - [TNF-α](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/tnf/) - [Interferon-γ](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/interferon/) - [Type I interferons (α, β)](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/type-i-interferons/) - [Th1, Th2, Th17, Tfh and Treg](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/th1-th2-th17-tfh-and-treg/) - [Acute-phase response and fever (CRP, ESR, procalcitonin)](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/acute-phase-response-and-fever/) - [Monoclonal antibodies and biologics: naming and targets](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/monoclonal-antibodies-and-biologics-naming-and-targets/) ## Related conditions - [Rheumatoid arthritis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/) - [Asthma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/asthma/) - [Crohn disease](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/crohn-disease/) - [Systemic lupus erythematosus](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/systemic-lupus-erythematosus/) - [Tuberculosis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/tuberculosis/) - [Sepsis and septic shock](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/sepsis-and-septic-shock/) [← All of immunology](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/) Educational content on the immune system; not a treatment or individual vaccination guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given. Sources: [Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Interleukins in Infectious Diseases: A Comprehensive Review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10818686/) (Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (PubMed Central), 2024); [21.2 Barrier Defenses and the Innate Immune Response - Anatomy and Physiology 2e | OpenStax](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/21-2-barrier-defenses-and-the-innate-immune-response) (OpenStax, 2022); [21.3 The Adaptive Immune Response: T lymphocytes and Their Functional Types - Anatomy and Physiology 2e | OpenStax](https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/21-3-the-adaptive-immune-response-t-lymphocytes-and-their-functional-types) (OpenStax, 2022); [Regulation of Treg cells by cytokine signaling and co-stimulatory molecules](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1387975/full) (Frontiers in Immunology, 2024). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/immunology/cytokines-the-table-to-know/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/immunology/cytokines-the-table-to-know/