流行性感冒(简称流感)是由流感病毒引起的一种急性上呼吸道传染病，其中甲型流感由于抗原变异率高而受到广泛关注。流感病毒感染机体后，细胞因子一方面参与机体抗流感免疫应答，发挥免疫调节作用，即在天然免疫阶段，白细胞介素、肿瘤坏死因子α等炎性细胞因子参与调节机体免疫应答强度、介导炎症反应的发生并启动适应性免疫应答，最终清除流感病毒；另一方面，炎性细胞因子的过度表达会引发细胞因子表达失调，对机体造成严重的病理损伤。

Influenza is an acute upper respiratory tract infection caused by influenza virus. Influenza A virus is drawn more and more attention for its high variants. In response to an attack of influenza, cytokines play a role in immunoregulation. In early innate viral response, the interleukins (ILs) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) help regulate inflammation and the intensity of immune response, activate the adaptive immunity, and eventually clear pathogens. On the other hand, overaction of inflammatory cytokines may cause cytokine dysregulation, which leads to severe Immunopathological damage.