Definition of "interleukin" [interleukin]

• Any of a group of cytokine proteins important in the regulation of lymphocyte function. (noun)

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• "Mice exposed to pollution showed a 15-fold increase in interleukin-6 just 24 hours later."
• "Kaptoge S, Mann AG, Sarwar N, Wood A, et al. (2008) Long-term interleukin-6 levels and subsequent risk of coronary heart disease: two new prospective studies and a systematic review."
• "Specifically, the researchers found that retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, seems to work together with high levels of a pro-inflammatory substance known as interleukin-15 IL-15 to break the body's tolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye."