The physiological responses of cytokines on binding to receptors include development of cellular and humoral immune response, induction of inflammatory response, regulation of haematopoiesis, control of cellular proliferation and differentiation and induction of wound healing. Other than this, the cytokines often induce the synthesis of other cytokines resulting in a cascade of activity in which the latter cytokines influence the activity of the former cytokines which secreted it. Finally, they function for a very limited period of time due to their short half-life in the blood stream and extracellular fluids Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a role in the development of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
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