Cytokine Milieu in Infectious Disease: A Sword or a Boon?

Cytokines have a myriad role in an infectious disease, whether being pathogenic, bacterial, or viral. All proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine biological function are dependent on its concentration, followed by combination with the other cytokines and the stage of the disease. Plasticity in switching off from one phenotype to the other of these regulatory mediators in congruence with the traditional concept of inhibitory and stimulatory effects on immune system is dealt with. This review highlights the dual functionality of some of these cytokines and cytokine-based immunotherapy.