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Cytokine Cascade

Meaning

The Cytokine Cascade refers to a complex, sequential, and highly regulated release of signaling proteins, known as cytokines, that orchestrate the body’s inflammatory and immune responses. In the context of hormonal health, chronic activation of this cascade represents a state of low-grade systemic inflammation, which is intrinsically linked to endocrine dysfunction, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Key pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), can directly interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and peripheral hormone action.