Viral cytokine or chemokine that usually acts as a competitive inhibitor of cytokines or chemokines. Virokines are produced by viruses (various herpes viruses, pox viruses, HIV) for immune evasion. They belong to the virulence factors of viruses. By binding to the receptors of the cytokines, the cell's own proinflammatory cytokines can only bind to their receptors to a reduced extent and trigger an immune reaction.