Final answer:
Cytokines are glycoproteins that play a fundamental role in the immune response, stimulating cell proliferation and inflammation. They can sometimes lead to an overactive immune response, resulting in severe, potentially fatal conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key subject in this question is cytokines, which are glycoproteins secreted by a range of cells, including leukocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells. These molecules are crucial in stimulating the immune response, including the proliferation of progenitor cells and stimulating both nonspecific and specific resistance to disease. Cytokines such as colony-stimulating factors and interleukins are involved in these processes and play a significant role in inflammation by increasing capillary dilation, promoting chemotaxis of leukocytes, and leading to the typical signs and symptoms associated with an inflammatory response such as fever, swelling, and redness of the affected area.
Furthermore, cytokines can overstimulate the immune response, leading to excessive inflammation and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as high fevers and shock. This can happen with bacterial superantigens which trigger an overwhelming release of cytokines and activation of T cells.