| 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 |
| Interleukin-11 (IL-11) 23 | Bone marrow stromal cells and IL-1-stimulated fibroblasts | Growth factor for plasmacytomas, megakaryocytes, amd macrophage progenitor cells. |
| Interleukin-12 (IL-12) Heterodimer containing a p35 subunit of 30-33, p40 subunit of 35-44. NK cells stimulatory factor (NKSF); cytotoxic lymphocyte maturation factor (CLMF) | Macrophages and dendritic cells | Important factor in inducing differentiation of Th1 subset helper T cells. Also induces interferon gamma production by T cells and NK cells and enhances NK cell activity. |
| Interleukin-13 (IL-13) 17 | Activated T cells, mast cells, and NK cells | Role in Th2 responses; upregulates synthesis of IgE and suppresses inflammatory responses. Involved in pathology of asthma and some allergic conditions. |
| Interleukin-14 (IL-14) 60. High molecular weight B cell growth factor (HMW-BCGF) | T cells | Enhances B celss proliferation, inhibits antibody synthesis. |
| Interleukin-15 (IL-15) 14-15 | Many cell types but primarily dendritic cells and cells of the monocytic lineage | Stimulates T cell proliferation and development and activation of NK cells. |
| Interleukin-16 (IL-16) homotetramer 60; monomer ~17. Lymphocyte chemotatic factor (LCF) | T cells | Stomulates migration of CD4+ T cells, CD4+ monocytes, and eosinophils. Binding of IL-16 by CD4 inhibits HIV sinfection of CD4+ cells . |
| Interleukin-17 (IL-17) 28-31. CTLA-8 (cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated antigen8) | Primarily CD4+ T cells | Supports hematopiesis indirectly by stimulating cytokine production by epithelial, endothelial, and fibroblastic stromal cells. Enhances expression of ICAM-1, thus making cells more adhesive. |
| Interleukin-18 (IL-18) 18.2, Interferon gamma-inducing factor (IGIF) | Cells of the monocytic lineage and dendritic cells | Promotes differentiation of Th1 subset of helper T cells. Induces interferon gamma production of T cells and enhances NK cell cytotoxicity. |
| Interleukin-19 (IL-19) Homotetramer 35-40 | LPS-stimulated monocytes; other sources also likely | Newly discovered member of the IL-10 family of cytokines. Activity under investigation. |
| Interleukin-20 (IL-20) | Newly discovered cytokine has effects in epidermal tissues; no immune system specific effects yet known. | |
| Interleukin-21 (IL-21) 15 | Activated T cells | Newly discovered. Enhances cytotoxic activity and gamma interferon production by activated NK cells. Enhances proliferation, gamma interferon production, and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. |
| Interleukin-22 (IL-22) | Newly discovered member of IL-10 cytokine family. | |
| Interleukin-23 (IL-23) Heterodimer of p40 subunit of IL-12 (35-40) and p19 (18.7) | Activated dendritic cells | Many of the same biological activities as IL-12 |
| Interleukin-24 (IL-24) 23. IL10B; MDA7 (melanoma differentiation association protein7) | Up-regulated in melanoma cells | Indeuces TNF-α and IFN-γ and low levels of IL-1β, IL-12, and GM-CSF in human PBMC. Induces selective anti-cancer properties in breast carcinoma cells by promoting p53 independent apoptosis. Member of the IL-10 family. |
| Interleukin-25 (IL-25) | New member of the IL-17 family. Induces production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin. In vivo introduction of IL-25 into the lung can result in airway disease, involving cytokine production, tissue reorganization, mucus secretion, and airway hyperreactivity. |