Cytokines and cytokine signalling: IL-1, IL-6, TNF, interferons and JAK-STAT
What IL-1, IL-6, TNF, the interferons and the T-helper cytokines do, how their receptors signal (including JAK-STAT), and how each biologic or JAK inhibitor explains its own infection risks and lab effects.
Tier 1Medical sciences concept
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Cytokines are small secreted proteins acting on nearby cells (paracrine) or distant organs (endocrine). They are pleiotropic (one cytokine, many effects) and redundant (many cytokines, one effect).
- The three pro-inflammatory cytokines that make you feel unwell are IL-1, IL-6 and TNF: fever, acute phase proteins, anorexia, hypotension in excess.
- Receptor family predicts signalling. Type I and II cytokine receptors (IL-2, IL-6, interferons, GM-CSF, EPO) lack kinase activity and use JAK-STAT. TNF and IL-1 receptors use NF-kB and MAP kinase pathways instead.
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Sources
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology (10th ed.)Elsevier (Abbas, Lichtman and Pillai, 2022), 2022
- Janeway's Immunobiology (10th ed.)W. W. Norton (Murphy and Weaver, 2022), 2022
- Ytterberg SR et al. Cardiovascular and cancer risk with tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis (ORAL Surveillance). N Engl J Med 2022;386:316-26New England Journal of Medicine, 2022
- Stone JH et al. Trial of tocilizumab in giant-cell arteritis (GiACTA). N Engl J Med 2017;377:317-28New England Journal of Medicine, 2017
- Australian Medicines Handbook: biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugsAU/NZAustralian Medicines Handbook, 2026
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
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