Lexic.us

Definition of Interleukin

1. Noun. Any of several lymphokines that promote macrophages and killer T cells and B cells and other components of the immune system.

Definition of Interleukin

1. Noun. (biochemistry) Any of a group of cytokine proteins important in the regulation of lymphocyte function. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Interleukin

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Interleukin

1. A variety of naturally occuring polypeptides that are members of the family of cytokines which affect functions of specific cell types and are found in small quantities. They are secreted regulatory proteins produced by lymphocytes, monocytes and various other cell types and are released by cells in response to antigenic and non-antigenic stimuli. Interleukins are of the larger class of T-cell products, lymphokines which are now more frequently considered as cytokines. The interleukins, of which there are 12 identified to date, modulate inflammation and immunity by regulating growth, mobility and differentiation of lymphoid and other cells. Included among the cytokines are cachectin and lymphotoxin which are now known as tumour necrosis factor-alpha and tumour necrosis factor-beta, respectively. Interleukin-1 inhibitors are the first well-described proteins involved in the feedback regulation of interleukin activities. The origin and functions of the two most novel cytokines, interleukin-11 and interleukin-12 (also referred to as natural killer cell stimulatory factor), have only recently begun to be understood. (11 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Interleukin

Literary usage of Interleukin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Neuroscience of Mental Health: A Report on Neuroscience Research edited by Stephen H. Koslow (1997)
"Experiments have shown that extremely low levels of both interleukin-1 and ... Injecting an exceedingly minute amount (0.6 picomoles) of interleukin-1 ..."

2. Oxygen/Nitrogen Radicals and Cellular Injury edited by Kenneth B. Adler, Robert D. Devlin, Val Vallyathan (2000)
"Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate inhibits the production of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by human ..."

3. Reviews in Environmental Health (1998): Toxicological Defense Mechanics edited by Gary E. R. Hook, George W. Lucier (2000)
"Stein B, Baldwin AS Jr. Distinct mechanisms for regulation of the interleukin-8 gene involve synergism and cooperativity between C/EBP and NF-KB. ..."

4. Drug Abuse and Drug Abuse Research (1991): The Third Triennial Report to edited by MaryLouise Embrey, Christine R. Hartel (1999)
"interleukin-1, produced by macrophages and monocytes experimentally in response to ... Recombinant human interleukin-1 -beta was used to stimulate the ..."

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