Cytokines

**Definition:** Non-antibody proteins secreted by inflammatory leukocytes and some non-leukocytic cells, that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.

**Tree numbers:** - D12.644.276.374 - D12.776.467.374 - D23.529.374

**Synonyms:** - Cytokine