Chemokines and their role in disease.

Abstract

Chemokines appear to play a role in disease progression at multiple levels. They originally were described as mediators of leukocyte recruitment and activation. However, recent evidence suggests that they can also alter the outcome of the immune response by altering the cytokine profile of a response. The true nature of the influence that chemokines have upon a particular response and the identification of critical chemokines as therapeutic targets can only be determined by thorough analysis of appropriate responses in animal models. Because of the diversity of chemokine production, the number and type of chemokines, and the permiscuous binding pattern for multiple receptors, the identification and elucidation of mechanisms will be difficult. Future studies into the function of chemokines should investigate the specific functions of individual chemokines during various phases of disease. Only then can their true functions be elucidated.