Cytokines in infectious disease

The term cytokines encompasses interleukins (IL), interferons (IFN), colony-stimulating factors (CSF), and peptide growth factors (PGF). The cytokine group is one of four groups of intercellular soluble signaling molecules, the other three being endocrine hormones, neurotransmitters, and autacoids. The understanding of the general physiological role of cytokines has been blurred by the emphasis given to their particular functions in immunology (lymphokines), virology (interferons), hematology (colony-stimulating factors), and cell biology (peptide growth factors). This review will concentrate on those aspects of cytokine biology that are key to understanding host tissue and organism responses to infections.