Cytokine facts for kids
Cytokines are tiny messenger molecules made by your body's cells. They are super important for your immune system, which is like your body's defense team. Cytokines help this team fight off diseases and keep you healthy.
Think of them like tiny signals that cells send to each other. These signals tell other cells what to do. Cytokines are made of special building blocks called proteins. They are found all over your body.
Some common cytokines you might hear about are interferon and interleukins. Scientists can find cytokines using special tests like ELISA.
How Cytokines Work
Cytokines work by sending messages to other cells. Each cytokine has a special "lock" on the surface of a cell called a receptor. When a cytokine (the "key") fits into its receptor, it starts a chain reaction inside the cell.
This chain reaction tells the cell to do different things. For example, it might tell the cell to make more cytokines, or to change how certain genes work. This helps your body respond to infections or other problems.
Related pages
Images for kids
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3D medical animation showing cytokines being released from a cell.
