Figure 4 | Cytokines in autoimmunity — good guys and bad guys switch sides!   a | The traditional view of cytokines is depicted.The cytokines that promote inflammation and immune responses, including interleukin (IL)-2, tumour-necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon- (IFN-), are shown wearing red shirts. The good guys, IL-10, transforming growth factor- (TGF-) and IL-4, inhibit cell-mediated immune responses and are depicted wearing blue shirts. Normally, there is an equilibrium between these cytokines (left), but in autoimmune disease (right), the bad guys overpower the good guys. b | A more realistic view is that these cytokines are not especially loyal to their team; they switch sides, meaning that they do not have simple pro- or anti-inflammatory actions; this is shown by cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-/ wearing both red and blue shirts. The cartoon is meant to emphasize that many cytokines have complex actions. The same cytokine can promote immune and inflammatory responses in some circumstances and inhibit responses in other settings.

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