interleukin 1
[ in-ter-loo-kin ]
/ ˈɪn tərˌlu kɪn /
noun Immunology.
any of several proteins released from certain cells, especially macrophages, and having various effects on the activity of other cells, as promoting inflammation or enhancing T-cell proliferation. Abbreviation: IL-1
Origin of interleukin 1
1979;
inter- +
leuk(ocyte) +
-in2; so called because such proteins act as agents of communication between different populations of leukocytes
Words nearby interleukin 1
interlay,
interleaf,
interleave,
interleaving,
interleukin,
interleukin 1,
interleukin 2,
interleukin 3,
interleukin-1,
interleukin-2,
interleukin-3
Medical definitions for interleukin-1
interleukin-1
n.
Any of a group of cytokines, released by macrophages and other cells, that induce the production of interleukin-2 by helper T cells and stimulate the inflammatory response.