Effect of interferon and lymphokines on lymphocytes

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Lymphokines are soluble mediators of cellular immunity produced by lymphoid cells.
• Interferon modulates cell-mediated immune reactions in a dose-dependent manner, exhibiting both amplifying and depressing effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the functions of lymphokines.
• To emphasize lymphokines with functions analogous to interferon.
• To highlight the need for further research into lymphokine mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of lymphokine functions.
• Comparison of lymphokine activities with interferon.
• Analysis of assay systems used to identify lymphokine activities.

Main Results:

• Several lymphokines exhibit functions similar to interferon.
• Lymphokine identification through various assay systems suggests potential overlap in molecular species.
• The precise number of distinct lymphokine molecular species remains to be determined.

Conclusions:

• Lymphokines play a crucial role in cellular immunity.
• Understanding lymphokine function requires further investigation at both cellular and molecular levels.
• Elucidating lymphokine mechanisms is essential for advancing our knowledge of the immune response.