Final answer:
Cytokines are powerful immune system messengers that can influence the action of other cytokines; they enhance immune response to cancer, protect cells against viral infections, and are involved in brain-immune system communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cytokines are chemical messengers playing a crucial role in the body's immune response. They can affect the function of other cytokines in various ways. For instance, cytokines can enhance the activity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILS) to boost their anti-cancer activity, leading to potential tumor shrinkage. This enhancement can be achieved through cytokine treatment.
Likewise, interferons, a class of cytokines, are released by infected cells to warn and protect nearby uninfected cells by inhibiting viral replication and activating other immune cells. The potent action of interferons includes signaling neighbor cells to destroy RNA, reduce protein synthesis, and prompt infected cells to undergo apoptosis. Cytokines can modulate brain functions, regulating neuronal processes and systemic inflammation and orchestrating immune response to stress.