HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rothwell, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rothwell, N. J.

Cytokines have traditionally been the concern of biologists interested in immunology, cancer and inflammatory disease, but over the past few years have been appearing with increasing regularity in the endocrinology literature. It has now been demonstrated that several cytokines appear in the general circulation, are produced by endocrine glands and can exert activities at sites distant from their synthesis. Thus, it may now be time to consider the role of the cytokines in endocrinology.

General history of cytokines: The cytokine family is a large, and seemingly everexpanding group of polypeptides which includes the interleukins (IL) (numbered 1–10), tumour necrosis factors (TNF) ( and β) and interferons. They have numerous and diverse actions on many cell types, but are most noted for their effects on cells of the immune system (see Hopkins, 1990; Dinarello, 1990 for recent reviews of general cytokine biology). The complexity of cytokine actions results partly

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P Patel, M A Mendall, S Khulusi, T C Northfield, and D P Strachan Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood: risk factors and effect on growth BMJ, October 29, 1994; 309(6962): 1119 - 1123. [Abstract] [Full Text]