| Cytokine. MW(kDa). Synonyms | Sources | Activity |
| BAFF (human B cell-activating factor). 18. ALL-1 (TNF and apoptosis ligand-related leukocyte-expressed ligand 1), BLys (B lymphocyte stimulator) | T cells, cells of the monocytic lineage, and dendritic cells | Members of the TNF family, occurs in membrane-bound and soluble form. Supports proliferation of antigen-receptor-stimulated B cells. Differentiation and survival factor cor immature B cells. |
| Granulocyte clolny-stimulating factor (G-CSF). 21 | Bone marrow stromal cells, and macrophages | Essential for growth and differentiation of the neutrophils |
| Granulocyte/ macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). 22 | T cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells | Growth factor for hematopoietic progenitor cells and differentiation factor for granulocytic and monocytic cell lineages |
| Interferon alpha (IFN-α). 16-27. Type 1 interferon, leukocyte interferon, and lymphoblast interferon | Lymphocytes and macrophages | Induces resistance to viruses and inhibits cell proliferation. Regulates expression of class ⅠMHC molecules on nucleated cells. |
| Interferon beta (IFN-β). 20. Type 1 interferon, fibroblast interferon | Fibroblasts and some epithelial cells | Induces resistance to virus infection in target cells. Inhibits cell proliferation and regulates expression of class ⅠMHC molecules. |
| Interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Monomer 17.1. Dimer 40. Type 2 interferon, immune interferon, macrophage-activating factor (MAF), and T cell interferon. | CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, NK cells | Affects activation, growth, and differentiation of T cells, B cells, and macrophages, as well as NK cells. Upregulates MHC expression on antigen-presenting cells. Signature cytokine of Th1 differentiation. Weak anti-viral amd anti-proliferative activities. |
| Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). 45. Differentiation-inhibiting factor (DIA), differentiation-retarding factor (DRF) | Many cell types including T cells, cells of the monocytic lineage, fibroblasts, liver, and heart | Major experimental application: keeps cultures of ES cells in undifferentiated state to maintain their proliferation. In vivo, in combination with other cytokines, promotes hematopoiesis, stimulates acute phase response of liver cells, increases bone resorption, and causes loss of body fat. |
| Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Disulfide linked homodimer of 45-90. Colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) | Many cell types including lymphocytes, monocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and others | Growth, differentiation, and survival factor for macrophage progenitors and macrophages |
| Macrophage inhibition factor (MIF). 12 monomer is biologically active in multimeric form. | Small amounts by many cell types; major producers are activated T cells, hepatocytes, and perhaps other cell types such as monocytes and epithelial cells | Activates macrophages and inhibits their migration. |
| Oncostain M (OSM). 28-32. Onco M, ONC. | Activated T cells and monocytes | Many functions, including regulation of the growth and differentiation of cells during hematopoiesis, neurogenesis, and osteogenesis |
| Stem cell factor (SCF). 36. kit ligand (kitL) or steel factor (SLF) | Bone marrow stromal cells, cells of other organs such as brain, kidney, lung, placenta | Roles in development of hematopoietic gonadal and pigmental lineages; active in both membrane-biund and secreted forms |
| Thombopoietin (Tpo). 60. Megakaryocyte colony-stimulating factor. | Liver, kidney, skeletal muscle | Megakaryocyte lineage-specific growth differentiation factor that regulates platelet production |
| Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). ~25. Differentiation-inhibiting factor. | Many nucleated cell types and found in platelets | Inhibits growth of a number of cell types; affects tissue remodeling, wound repair, develiopment, and hematopoiesis. Exert suppressive effects on the expansion of certain immune-cell populations; switch factor for IgA. |
| Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). 52. Cachetin. | Monocytes, macrophages, other cell types including T cells, and fibroblasts | Stronf mediator of inflammatory and immune functions. Known to regulate growth and differentiation of a wide variety of cell types. Cytotoxic for many types of transformed cells. |
| Tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β). 25. Lymphotoxin (LT). | Activated T cells; B cells | Mediator of inflammation and immune function. Affects healing. |