One of the body’s natural defense mechanisms against a virus like COVID or influenza is the release of cytokines, proteins that act as chemical messengers helping to coordinate the immune system’s response.
—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
More than 11,000 delegates, known as messengers, were attending.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.