definitions

interleukin 1

[ in-ter-loo-kin ]
/ ˈɪn tərˌlu kɪn /

noun Immunology.

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

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Nearby words

interlay, interleaf, interleave, interleaving, interleukin, interleukin 1, interleukin 2, interleukin 3, interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-3

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. 2019