Cytokine and Growth Factor Suppliers A-E

Cytokine and Growth Factor Suppliers E-W

Cytokine Guide

It is difficult to name a class of molecules that has had more impact on biomedical research than cytokines and growth factors. As the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries train their sights on cancer, AIDS, and various autoimmune diseases, the machinations of the immune response are slowly being revealed, and it is clear that cytokines and growth factors play key roles in orchestrating defense.

But the work they perform is still poorly understood. The term "cytokine" was originally coined to distinguish growth factors that influence immune function from those that affect other cell types. And in fact, some varieties of cytokines are released by nearly all known cell types, making this class of molecules a popular target for research.

Cytokines are released by immune cells in response to all manner of insult or injury (real or perceived),...

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