What are cytokines and how do they differ from the PAMP system?
Cellular communication is crucial to the immune response. The significance of cytokines is that they carry messages about an immune threat to various cells and tissues.
Imagine that you're on your way to have dinner with a friend. You're driving on the highway and pass a speed trap. The speed trap is analogous to a pathogen or other threat. Now you're on alert and know to slow down- but you know your friend will be passing this way too. (Your friend is the receiving cell or tissue.) So you tell Siri to send them a text about the speed trap. Sending that message is analogous to a cell releasing cytokines. You friend didn't see the speed trap themselves, but they are now able to prepare because of the message.