Skip to main content

Cytokine Release

Meaning

Cytokine Release is the process by which various immune and non-immune cells secrete small, non-antibody protein molecules known as cytokines into the extracellular space, primarily in response to inflammation, infection, or injury. These molecules act as chemical messengers, mediating communication between cells and coordinating the body’s immune response, affecting systemic processes like fever and tissue repair. While essential for host defense, excessive or inappropriate release can lead to a detrimental state of systemic inflammation. This process is central to immunopathology.