What is the Difference Between Lymphokines and Cytokines

The key difference between lymphokines and cytokines is that the lymphokines are a subset of cell signaling cytokine proteins produced by T lymphocytes while cytokines are a broad and loose category of small cell signaling proteins that are produced by a broad range of cells including macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, mast cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and stromal cells.

Cell signaling, known as cell communication, is the ability of a cell to receive, process, and transmit signals within its external environment and within the cell itself. Lymphokines and cytokines are two types of proteins important in cell signaling. Their involvement in cell signaling is an important part of human body regulation. Moreover, they play a vital role in the human immune system as well.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Lymphokines
3. What are Cytokines
4. Similarities – Lymphokines and Cytokines
5. Lymphokines vs Cytokines in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lymphokines vs Cytokines

What are Lymphokines?

Lymphokines are a subset of cell signaling cytokine proteins produced by T cells (lymphocytes). They are protein mediators that direct the immune system response through signaling between cells in the body. Lymphokines play many vital roles, including the attraction of other immune cells such as macrophages and other lymphocytes to an infected site and their subsequent activation in order to prepare them to mount an active immune response. In addition to that, lymphokines also aid B cells in producing antibodies. This generates antibodies against invading pathogens.

Most importantly, circulating lymphocytes can detect a very small concentration of lymphokines in the bloodstream. Then they move up the concentration of lymphokines when an immune response is required. The important lymphokines that are secreted by CD4⁺ or T helper cells include interleukin 2, interleukin 3, interleukin 4, interleukin 5, interleukin 6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interferon-gamma. B lymphocytes are also capable of producing lymphokines.

What are Cytokines?

Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small proteins which are peptides. Their size is around 5 to 25 kDa. Cytokines are very important in cell signaling. Cytokines cannot cross the lipid bilayer of the cells to enter the cytoplasm. The roles of cytokines include autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine cell signaling as immunomodulating agents. However, cytokines are distinct from hormones. Different types of cytokines include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines, and tumor necrosis factors. But hormones and growth factors are not included in this group.

Lymphokines vs Cytokines in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Cytokines

Cytokines are generally produced by a broad range of cells, including macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, mast cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and stromal cells. Moreover, a particular cytokine may be produced by more than one type of cell. In addition, cytokines modulate the balance between humoral and cell-based immune responses. They also regulate the maturation, growth, and responsiveness of a particular cell population. Some cytokines are involved in enhancing or inhibiting the actions of other cytokines. Cytokines are very important in host responses to infection, inflammation, trauma, sepsis, cancer, and reproduction as well.

What are the Similarities Between Lymphokines and Cytokines?

Lymphokines and cytokines are two types of proteins important in cell signaling.
Their involvement in cell signaling is an important part of human body regulation.
Both play vital roles in the human immune system and human defence against invading pathogens as well.
Both are different from hormones or growth factors.
They are very small molecules.
They are produced by different types of cells.

What is the Difference Between Lymphokines and Cytokines?

Lymphokines are a subset of cell signaling cytokine proteins produced by T cells, while cytokines are a broad and loose category of small cell signaling proteins produced by a broad range of cells, including macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, mast cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and stromal cells. Thus, this is the key difference between lymphokines and cytokines. Furthermore, the size of lymphokines ranges between 10 to 12 kDa, while the size of cytokines ranges between 5 to 25 kDa.

The below infographic presents the differences between lymphokines and cytokines in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Lymphokines vs Cytokines

Lymphokines and cytokines are two types of proteins that are important in cell signaling. They are very important in host responses to infection, inflammation, trauma, sepsis, cancer, and reproduction. Lymphokines are a subset of cell signaling cytokine proteins typically produced by T lymphocytes. Cytokines are a broad and loose category of small cell signaling proteins that are produced by a broad range of cells, including macrophages, B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, mast cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and stromal cells. So, this summarizes the difference between lymphokines and cytokines.