Instructions for Authors
These instructions outline submission requirements, formatting standards, and ethical expectations for the International Journal of Cytokine.
Following the guidelines helps expedite peer review and ensures your work is evaluated fairly and efficiently.
Why Researchers Trust Us
Fast Publication
Average 4 weeks to first decision, 3 weeks to publication after acceptance
Expert Review
35+ editorial board members specializing in cytokine biology and immunology
Global Reach
Research disseminated to immunology professionals in 45+ countries immediately
Rigorous Standards
Double-blind peer review ensuring highest scientific quality and reproducibility
Journal at a Glance
International Journal of Cytokine publishes research that advances understanding of immune signaling, inflammation, and translational immunology. The journal emphasizes rigorous methodology, clear reporting, and clinical relevance to support evidence based care.
Our publishing model combines rapid editorial triage with expert peer review so that cytokine research can move from discovery to application efficiently.
- Peer reviewed open access journal focused on cytokine science.
- Double blind peer review and structured editorial decisions.
- DOI assignment and metadata delivery for discoverability.
- Global readership across immunology and clinical communities.
Quality and Transparency Commitment
Quality assurance is embedded throughout the IJCY workflow. Editorial screening, ethical checks, and reviewer guidance ensure that published results are credible, reproducible, and clinically meaningful.
Authors receive clear decision letters and detailed revision guidance, helping them improve manuscripts and communicate findings with precision.
- Structured reviewer criteria and decision templates.
- Integrity checks for originality and data clarity.
- Transparent timelines and consistent communication.
Before You Submit
Confirm that your manuscript aligns with the scope of cytokine biology, immune regulation, or translational immunology. The journal prioritizes studies with clear mechanistic insight, robust methodology, and clinical relevance.
- Ensure all authors approve the final manuscript and submission.
- Confirm ethical approvals and informed consent statements.
- Prepare a data availability statement.
- Identify any conflicts of interest and funding sources.
Manuscript Types
Original Research
Full length reports of experimental or clinical studies with robust statistical analysis.
Systematic Reviews
Evidence syntheses that follow established reporting standards and clear search strategies.
Short Communications
Concise studies reporting significant cytokine findings or novel methods.
Perspectives
Expert commentary on emerging cytokine biology, therapy, or diagnostics.
Methods
Validated techniques, assays, or bioinformatics pipelines relevant to cytokine research.
Case Reports
Unique clinical cases that advance understanding of cytokine related disease mechanisms.
Manuscript Structure
Organize the manuscript in a clear, standardized format. Consistent structure supports reviewer evaluation and improves readability across disciplines.
Title Page
Include a concise title, author names, affiliations, and corresponding author contact.
Abstract
Provide a structured abstract summarizing background, methods, results, and conclusions.
Keywords
List 4 to 6 keywords that align with cytokine research terminology.
Main Text
Use standard sections such as Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
References
Ensure citations are complete and consistent, with DOI links where available.
Acknowledgments
List funding sources and contributor roles clearly.
Formatting and Style
Use clear scientific language and define abbreviations at first mention. Maintain consistency in units, gene symbols, and cytokine nomenclature across the manuscript.
- Use SI units and standard immunology nomenclature.
- Define all abbreviations on first use.
- Describe statistical tests and significance thresholds.
- Report sample sizes and replicates clearly.
Statistical Reporting
Statistical transparency is essential for evaluating cytokine studies. Clearly define statistical tests, report exact p values when possible, and describe how multiple comparisons were handled.
Include effect sizes and confidence intervals for key outcomes, and describe any power calculations or sample size justification.
- Report the statistical software and version used.
- Describe assumptions and how they were tested.
- Explain missing data handling and exclusions.
Figures, Tables, and Supplementary Data
Figures and tables should be self explanatory, with descriptive captions and clear labeling. Include scale bars, units, and statistical annotations when applicable.
- Provide high resolution figures in accepted formats.
- Number tables and figures consecutively.
- Describe experimental conditions in figure legends.
- Upload supplementary data with clear file names.
Supplementary Materials and Reproducibility
Supplementary files should add value to the main manuscript by providing extended methods, additional figures, or supporting datasets. Keep file naming clear and include a brief description of each file in the manuscript.
If specialized software or code is required to interpret results, provide access details and version information to support reproducibility.
Well organized supplementary materials reduce reviewer queries and improve transparency.
- Include a readme file for complex datasets.
- Describe any preprocessing or normalization steps.
- Provide assay protocols or validation details when relevant.
Ethics and Compliance
All studies involving human participants or animals must include approval details and adhere to recognized ethical standards. Provide consent statements where required.
- Include IRB or ethics committee approval information.
- Provide clinical trial registration details when applicable.
- Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.
- Confirm that data and images are authentic.
Clinical Trial and Observational Reporting
Clinical studies should include trial registration identifiers and clear descriptions of enrollment, interventions, and outcome measures. Observational studies should address bias, confounding, and participant selection.
Transparent reporting allows reviewers to assess validity and improves the value of cytokine evidence for clinical translation.
- Provide trial registration details when applicable.
- Report participant flow and inclusion criteria.
- Describe blinding, randomization, and endpoint definitions.
Authorship and Contributions
IJCY follows clear authorship criteria to ensure accountability. All listed authors should meet contribution standards and approve the final submission.
Include an author contribution statement and acknowledge any medical writing or editorial assistance.
- Define each author role clearly.
- Confirm that all authors approve the submission.
- Disclose any competing interests.
Data Availability and Reporting
IJCY expects a clear data availability statement describing how readers can access supporting datasets, code, and protocols. Transparent reporting improves reproducibility and supports future meta analyses.
- Provide repository links and access conditions.
- Describe any restrictions on sensitive data.
- Include method details sufficient for replication.
Reporting Standards and Checklists
Use recognized reporting standards when applicable. Structured checklists improve completeness and help reviewers evaluate methodology across different study designs.
- Systematic reviews should include search strategies and selection criteria.
- Clinical trials should report outcomes and adverse events clearly.
- Laboratory studies should describe assay validation and controls.
Cover Letter and Suggested Reviewers
Include a brief cover letter summarizing the novelty and clinical relevance of your findings. Authors may suggest qualified reviewers without conflicts of interest.
The editorial office may or may not use suggested reviewers, but clear recommendations can support efficient review assignment.
Preprints and Prior Publication
If the manuscript has appeared on a preprint server, disclose the preprint DOI or link in the cover letter. Preprint posting does not affect editorial consideration, but transparency is required.
Submissions should be original and not under review elsewhere. Related manuscripts should be disclosed to avoid duplication.
File Preparation and Submission Materials
Prepare separate files for the main manuscript, figures, tables, and supplementary materials. Clear file naming helps editors and reviewers navigate submissions efficiently.
Include a title page file with author details and a blinded manuscript file when requested. Ensure that all supplementary files are referenced in the text.
Double check that file formats open correctly and that embedded fonts or symbols display as intended.
- Use descriptive file names for figures and tables.
- Upload high resolution images in accepted formats.
- Provide a list of supplementary files in the cover letter.
Submission Methods
IJCY offers two submission options. Manuscriptzone provides full tracking and revision management, while the Simple Manuscript Submission form offers a streamlined intake option.
Submit Your Manuscript
Select the submission method that best fits your workflow. Our team will confirm receipt and provide next steps.
APC and Licensing Notes
APCs are applied only after acceptance. Licensing follows an open access model that allows reuse with attribution, supporting broad dissemination of cytokine research.
If you have funding requirements, contact the editorial office to confirm compliance documentation.
Including funding statements early helps the editorial team prepare the correct invoice and documentation.
Clear funding details also reduce administrative delays after acceptance.
After Submission
All manuscripts undergo editorial screening followed by peer review. Authors receive clear decision letters and are invited to respond to reviewer feedback with a point by point response.
After acceptance, production begins immediately and authors review proofs before final publication.
Timely responses to reviewer comments help keep the process efficient and predictable.
Decision Outcomes and Proofs
Decisions are categorized as accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. Decision letters include clear guidance on required changes and suggested timelines for resubmission.
Proofs are sent to corresponding authors for final review. Authors should confirm accuracy of figures, tables, and author details before publication.
Prompt proof review helps keep publication timelines on schedule whenever possible.
Editors may request raw data or additional files to verify key results. Provide files promptly to avoid delays.
Need Assistance
Author Support
Email the editorial office for guidance on formatting, scope, or submission requirements.
[email protected]
