[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cytokine/)

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# cytokine

noun (a cytokine, cytokines)

«cytokine» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(science) A cytokine is a tiny protein that cells send out as a message, especially to control the body's immune system when fighting germs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#m1)

### In the lessons

A science and medicine word: when you catch a cold, cells release cytokines that call immune cells to fight the infection; they can also cause fever and tiredness, which is part of how the body fights back. Children may hear it in news about illnesses and vaccines.

### Examples

- Cytokines tell white blood cells where to go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x1)
- When you have flu, cytokines help cause the fever. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x2)
- Scientists study cytokines to make new medicines. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x3)
- Cytokines are messages sent from one cell to another. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x4)
- Some cytokines calm the immune system down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x5)
- Too many cytokines at once can make a person very ill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/#x6)

### Note

Countable, mostly plural: cytokines. Pronounced «SY-toh-kine». «Cyto» means cell; «kine» means movement.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cytokine» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cytokine/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cytokine» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cytokine.html) on Mova free.