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definitions

interleukin 1

[in-ter-loo-kin]
noun Immunology.
  1. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018