Chemokines: proinflammatory and cell traffic regulator cytokines

Abstract

Chemokines are a large group of proinflammatory cytokines; currently, there are about 40 different chemokines produced by different cellular sources and with pleiotropic actions. Interest in chemokines’ research is growing due to their selectivity to activate and to direct the traffic of different leukocyte populations, in contrast with other chemotactic factors that attract neutrophils and monocytes similarly. Furthermore, it has been observed that chemokines are involved in hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, tumor growth and apoptosis. As chemokines direct the migration and function of leukocytes, it has been proposed that they have an important role in the pathophysiology of some diseases such as immune-complex glomerulonephritis, ischemia–reperfussion, HIV infection and other immune reactions.