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Glite Dictionary
lymphokine

lymphokine

1 9.9
A chemical made by white blood cells that tells other immune cells what to do
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪmfəˌkaɪn/
  • Specialized
: linfocina
  • The study focused on the effects of different lymphokines on the behavior of immune cells.

Examples

  • Researchers are investigating how lymphokines influence the development of various immune cell types.

  • It inhibits T-cell secretion of some lymphokines, such as interferon-gamma and IL-2, and the result is a decrease in inflammatory activity.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The stimulated macrophages secrete chemotactic factors such as lymphokines, which then attract T-helper (T4) lymphocytes.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Lymphokines released by T-lymphocytes play a crucial role in regulating immune responses.

Synonyms

cytokine
vslymphokine
  • Specialized
12 8.2

A small protein made by cells that tells the immune system what to do

is a specific signal made by certain lymphocytes affecting other immune cells

Surface Forms

lymphokine singular
lymphokines plural

Morphology

lymphokine = lymph (semi-transparent) = lymph + kine

The element 'lymph' clearly signals a relation to lymph or lymphocytes, but '-kine' is a specialized biomedical combining form meaning a signalling protein and is not transparent to general learners.

Etymology

The word lymphokine comes from two parts: lympho- meaning 'lymph' (the clear fluid that carries immune cells) and -kine meaning 'movement', as in kinetic. So a lymphokine is a chemical made by lymph cells that 'moves' or signals other immune cells to act.