Other interleukin signaling

Interleukins are low molecular weight proteins that bind to cell surface receptors and act in an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion. They were first identified as factors produced by leukocytes but are now known to be produced by many other cells throughout the body. They have pleiotropic effects on cells which bind them, impacting processes such as tissue growth and repair, hematopoietic homeostasis, and multiple levels of the host defense against pathogens where they are an essential part of the immune system.

白细胞介素是一类低分子量蛋白质，能够与细胞表面受体结合，并通过自分泌和/或旁分泌的方式发挥作用。它们最初被识别为白细胞产生的因子，但现已证实，全身许多其他细胞也能产生白细胞介素。这些蛋白质对与之结合的细胞具有多效性作用，影响诸如组织生长与修复、造血稳态以及宿主对抗病原体的多级防御等多个层面，其中它们是免疫系统不可或缺的组成部分。