This review provides an overview of the role of cytokines in both acute and chronic inflammation. In acute inflammation, key cytokines include IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-11, IL-8, and colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). These cytokines mediate immune responses through various mechanisms, such as recruiting leukocytes, activating macrophages, and influencing cellular activation. In chronic inflammation, cytokines play a more complex role, with some mediating humoral responses (e.g., IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, TGF-β) and others contributing to cellular responses (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, interferons, IFN-γ-inducing factor, TGF-β, TNF-α and TNF-β). The review also discusses the receptors of inflammatory cytokines, highlighting the homology within their extracellular domains and the shared pathways they activate. Understanding the intricate network of cytokine interactions is crucial for developing targeted therapies for autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic diseases.This review provides an overview of the role of cytokines in both acute and chronic inflammation. In acute inflammation, key cytokines include IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-11, IL-8, and colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). These cytokines mediate immune responses through various mechanisms, such as recruiting leukocytes, activating macrophages, and influencing cellular activation. In chronic inflammation, cytokines play a more complex role, with some mediating humoral responses (e.g., IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, TGF-β) and others contributing to cellular responses (e.g., IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, interferons, IFN-γ-inducing factor, TGF-β, TNF-α and TNF-β). The review also discusses the receptors of inflammatory cytokines, highlighting the homology within their extracellular domains and the shared pathways they activate. Understanding the intricate network of cytokine interactions is crucial for developing targeted therapies for autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic diseases.