Journal profile · Immunology
Cytokine
ISSN 1043-4666 · eISSN 1096-0023 · Academic Press Inc. · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1989
Cytokine: CAS Zone 3 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.54; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,220; median 126 days to acceptance (98 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 42%; 248 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Cytokine is published by Academic Press Inc. and is in Zone 3 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Immune Response and Inflammation, Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions and Immune Cell Function and Interaction, together about 33.7% of its articles. Its main subfields are Immunology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An Official journal of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS)Cytokine publishes studies that report on the molecular biology, signal transduction, genetics, biochemistry, immunology, genome-wide association, pathobiology, diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic applications of all known and emerging cytokines, cytotoxins, interferons, chemokines, adipokines, matrikines, hematopoietic factors, and growth factors. Studies reporting all signaling molecules from the pathogens and host-endogenous sources, metabolic products/adducts that mediate inflammation and immunity, either influence and/or operate under this broad class of "biological response modifiers" as they relate to host defenses and immune responses will be considered for publication.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Immunology
Editor-in-chief Penelope A. MorelPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 6 in mainland China (about 7%); most named United States 31, Italy 9, Canada 8, Japan 7, Mainland China 6 (85 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Immune Response and InflammationImmunology and Microbiology12.5%
- Cytokine Signaling Pathways and InteractionsMedicine12.3%
- Immune Cell Function and InteractionImmunology and Microbiology9%
- interferon and immune responsesImmunology and Microbiology6.1%
- Chemokine receptors and signalingMedicine5%
- T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology4.9%
- Immunotherapy and Immune ResponsesImmunology and Microbiology4.8%
- Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesMedicine4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Immunology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Immunology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Cell Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Immunology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.54LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.08LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.96LetPub ·
- h-index
- 103LetPub ·
- h-index
- 174OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,349OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.82OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 2.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 21.92%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 228LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 11,917 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 107 | 31 | 35 |
| 2025 | 248 | 73 | 771 |
| 2024 | 308 | 86 | 1,725 |
| 2023 | 285 | 82 | 3,355 |
| 2022 | 249 | 75 | 4,690 |
| 2021 | 294 | 108 | 6,713 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
126 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 92 days – 168 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 7 days (98 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 134 days
- Sample
- 98 articles with submission and acceptance dates (450 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 12 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 42%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 50 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 112 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 8 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,220 / EUR 3,010 / GBP 2,580 / JPY 399,380 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,510 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare8 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 2,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted5, with length limits
- cytokine stimulusCytokine Stimulus Cytokine stimulus articles describe significance and how it explains or contradicts the reported literature. Manuscripts should not exceed 150…Length not stated
- research articlesResearch Articles Full-length descriptions of original research. The scope may include basic science, clinical results, or applications. These manuscripts will …Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles These are comprehensive appraisals of research and clinical outcomes in a field of current interest related to cytokine biology. All reviews are…Length not stated
- short communicationThese submissions will also undergo standard review. Manuscripts should not exceed 2000 words plus no more than 15 references. Your cover letter must include yo…main text ≤ 2,000 words · figures and tables ≤ 2 · references ≤ 15
- short communicationsShort Communications These submissions will also undergo standard review. Manuscripts should not exceed 2000 words plus no more than 15 references. Your cover l…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
ethics in publishing Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Academic Press Inc.
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1989
- ISSN
- 1043-4666
- Electronic ISSN
- 1096-0023
- Society / sponsor
- International Cytokine & Interferon Society
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Cytokine
What CAS zone is Cytokine in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Cytokine is in Zone 3 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Cell Biology / Immunology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Cytokine?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.54; CiteScore 7.2, h-index 174.
How long does peer review take at Cytokine?
Based on the dates recorded on 98 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 126 days (interquartile range 92–168 days); authors report an average review time of about 12 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 42%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Cytokine?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Manuscript length: ≤ 2,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Cytokine based?
Of the 85 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 6 (about 7%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (31), Italy (9) and Canada (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Cytokine?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Cytokine is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Cytokine open access, and what is the APC?
Cytokine is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,220.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .