Cytokines and Immune Cell Markers

Explore the complex network of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and immune cell markers that regulate inflammation, infection defense, immune activation, tissue repair, and immune-related disease. This category provides clear, evidence-based guidance on laboratory tests used to assess immune signaling and cellular immunity, including interleukins such as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IL-18, and IL-23, as well as interferons, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, GM-CSF, VEGF, and soluble IL-2 receptor. You will also find detailed explanations of immune cell testing, including T-cell, B-cell, CD4, CD8, natural killer cell, regulatory T-cell, and lymphocyte subset counts. Articles cover specialized assessments such as flow cytometry, CD4/CD8 ratio, lymphocyte proliferation, NK cell function, neutrophil oxidative burst, cytokine and chemokine panels, and macrophage activation syndrome testing. Each guide explains what the test measures, why it may be ordered, how results are interpreted, and which factors can affect accuracy. Important clinical topics include immunodeficiency, autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders, allergy, infection, cancer, HLH, cytokine release syndrome, cytokine storm, treatment monitoring, and immune-targeted therapies. Together, these resources help patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals better understand modern immune-system testing and its role in diagnosis, monitoring, and clinical decision-making.