Cytokine inflammation causes systemic inflammation. Due to their pro-inflammatory action, they make the disease worse by producing fever, inflammation, and tissue destruction. The net effect of an inflammatory response is determined by the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Certain inflammatory cytokines are also involved in nerve injury/ inflammation-induced central sensitization and are related to the development of contralateral hyperalgesia. Journal of Cytokine Biology, Journal of Immuno-oncology, Journal of Molecular Immunology, Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology, Journal of Cytokine Biology, Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology,  Inflammation Research, Journal of Neuroinflammation, Mediators of Inflammation, Inflammation and Allergy - Drug Targets, Journal of Inflammation. Cytokines are small secreted proteins released by cells that have a specific effect on the interactions and communications between cells. Cytokine is a general name; other names include lymphokine (cytokines made by lymphocytes), monokine (cytokines made by monocytes), chemokine (cytokines with chemotactic activities), and interleukin (cytokines made by one leukocyte and acting on other leukocytes). Cytokines may act on the cells that secrete them (autocrine action), on nearby cells (paracrine action), or in some instances on distant cells (endocrine action). There are both pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. There is significant evidence showing that certain cytokines/chemokines are involved in not only the initiation but also the persistence of pathologic pain by directly activating nociceptive sensory neurons. Certain inflammatory cytokines are also involved in nerve-injury/inflammation-induced central sensitization and are related to the development of contralateral hyperalgesia/allodynia.