interleukin
(in‵tĕr-loo'kĭn 
)
ABBR: IL
A type of cytokine that enables communication among leukocytes and other cells active in inflammation or the specific immune response. The result is a maximized response to a microorganism or other foreign antigen.
SEE: cell-mediated immunity; cytokine; inflammation.
ABBR: IL-1
A cytokine released by almost all nucleated cells that activates the growth and function of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages; promotes the release of additional mediators that influence immune responses; enhances production of cerebrospinal fluid; and modulates certain adrenal, hepatic, bone, and vascular smooth muscle cell activity. Interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factors, whose actions are almost identical to those of IL-1, are involved in fever production and other systemic effects of inflammation.SEE: tumor necrosis factor.
ABBR: IL-1-β
A protein released by activated macrophages that stimulates B cells and thymocytes to proliferate and mature and increases the secretion of interleukin 2. It is found in high levels in the blood of patients with septic shock and in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis. SYN: catabolin.ABBR: IL-2
A cytokine released primarily by activated CD4+ helper T lymphocytes. It is a major mediator of T cell proliferation, promotes production of other cytokines, enhances natural killer cell function, and is a cofactor for immunoglobulin secretion. SYN: T-cell growth factor.ABBR: IL-3
A cytokine produced by activated T cells that promotes proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. SYN: mast cell growth factor; multi-colony stimulating factor.ABBR: IL-4
A cytokine released by activated T cells and mast cells that stimulates B and T lymphocyte production and activity, prevents macrophages from releasing monokines, and promotes mast cell, immunoglobulin E, and eosinophil activity. SYN: B cell growth factor; mast cell growth factor II; T-cell growth factor II.ABBR: IL-5
A cytokine produced by T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells that acts as the primary stimulant for eosinophil production. SYN: eosinophil colony-stimulating factor; eosinophil differentiation factor.SEE: basophil(e); eosinophil.
ABBR: IL-6
A lymphokine produced by many cell types, including mononuclear phagocytes, T cells, and endothelial cells. It mediates the acute phase response, enhances B cell production and differentiation to immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells, and stimulates megakaryocyte production. SYN: B-cell stimulatory factor-2; hepatocyte stimulatory factor.SEE: acute phase reaction; lymphokine.
ABBR: IL-7
A cytokine produced by the thymus, spleen, and bone marrow stromal cells. It stimulates growth of B-cell precursors, development of thymocytes, and activity of cytotoxic T-cells. SYN: lymphopoietin 1; pre-B cell growth factor.ABBR: IL-8
A cytokine produced by many cell types. It acts as a neutrophil chemoattractant.ABBR: IL-9
A cytokine produced by T cells. Among other functions, it promotes the proliferation and multiplication of mast cells.ABBR: IL-10
An anti-inflammatory cytokine derived from mononuclear phagocytes, T cells, and keratinocytes. It inhibits cytokine synthesis by macrophages, T cells, and natural killer cells, and enhances B cell growth and secretion of immunoglobulin.ABBR: IL-11
A cytokine produced by bone marrow stromal cells. It mediates acute phase protein synthesis, enhances B cell growth and differentiation to plasma cells, and promotes megakaryocyte production. SYN: plasmocytoma stimulating factor.ABBR: IL-12
A cytokine produced by mononuclear phagocytes and B cells. It induces interferon gamma production from T cells and natural killer cells, and enhances T cell and natural killer cell cytotoxicity. SYN: natural killer cell stimulating factor.ABBR: IL-13
A cytokine produced by T cells. It induces major histocompatibility class II expression on mononuclear phagocytes and B cells, proliferation of B cells, production of immunoglobulin, and regulates allergic responsiveness..ABBR: IL-14
A cytokine produced by T lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells. It stimulates proliferation of activated B lymphocytes and inhibits immunoglobulin secretion from activated B lymphocytes.ABBR: IL-15
A cytokine released by epithelial cells in the kidney, skeletal muscle, liver, lungs, heart, and bone marrow, which stimulates production of T cells, esp. cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. It can bind with interleukin-2 receptors and mimic IL-2's effects.SEE: interleukin-2.
ABBR: IL-16
A cytokine produced by T lymphocytes that stimulates movement of monocytes, CD4+ T cells, and eosinophils to the area. It was previously known as lymphocyte chemoattractant factor.ABBR: IL-17
A cytokine produced by memory T lymphocytes that stimulates the proliferation of T cells and the differentiation of neutrophils. Drugs that inhibit IL-17 have been used to treat patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.ABBR: IL-18
A proinflammatory cytokine produced by macrophages that stimulates the production of gamma interferon and other chemical mediators that enhance cell-mediated immune responses. It is similar in structure to IL-1.i.-23 A cytokine that promotes inflammatory responses in the body, e.g., the proliferation of certain T lymphocyte helper cells. It participates in several autoimmune processes.