| description | Small secreted proteins from higher eukaryotes which affect the growth, division and functions of other cells, e.g. interleukins, lymphokines, TNF and interferons. Generally, growth factors are not classified as cytokines, though TGF is an exception. Chemokines are a subset of cytokines. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissues or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner |
