Inflammation and immunology
C. Simon Herrington in Muir's Textbook of Pathology, 2020
Chemokines are a family of small proteins acting as activators and chemotactic agents for specific leukocytes. They are divided into several groups depending on their amino acid sequence, in particular the grouping of cystine residues. These different groups have different biological properties. These are responsible for attracting and immobilizing monocytes within the inflammatory focus, and they also act on eosinophils and lymphocytes. They do not possess chemotactic properties for neutrophils. C chemokines possess only one of the conserved cystine residues of the chemokine family and are specific for lymphocytes. CX3C is a more recently described family and appears to exist mostly as cell surface-bound chemokines promoting the adhesion between monocytes and T cells, which is an important part of the inflammatory and immune responses.
Marine Drugs: A Source of Medicines for Neuroinflammatory Disorders
Rohit Dutt, Anil K. Sharma, Raj K. Keservani, Vandana Garg in Promising Drug Molecules of Natural Origin, 2020
Out of all cellular reactions, the immunological reactions are key players for neuroinflammatory disorders due to its rapid, sensitive, and sustained reactions. Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are predominantly engaging in these neuro-immunological reactions (Otmishi et al., 2008). In addition, astrocytes also release the multiple growth factors which make the morphological changes of nerve tissue. This reaction is acute and initial events because once astrocytes reaction is over it will compose to proteoglycan matrix and form the glial scar (Silver and Miller, 2004). The immune cells are communicating via various cell mediators like cytokines and chemokines (Hanisch, 2002). In physiological conditions, cytokines regulate inflammation, cell signaling, and various cellular processes like cell growth and survival (Veldhoven et al., 2006). Chemokines are subset molecules of cytokines and it also regulates the cell functions like the relocation of cells which is attracting immune cells in the place of injury or infection from the circulation of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and surrounding (adjacent) tissue compartments (Goverman, 2009). The following brain cells are communicating via cytokines and chemokines. Such cells are microglia, astrocytes, endothelial cells oligodendrocytes, and other glial cells (Hanisch, 2002). In addition, chemokines, and cytokines also possess neuromodulatory actions.
The Role of Platelet-Activating Factor in Endotoxin-Related Disease
Helmut Brade, Steven M. Opal, Stefanie N. Vogel, David C. Morrison in Endotoxin in Health and Disease, 2020
The small proteins of the chemokine superfamily should also be mentioned briefly. This family of leukocyte activators consists of more than 30 chemotactic molecules. Most chemokines can be classified into two groups—α (CXC) and β (CC)—distinguished by the presence or absence of a single amino acid between the first two of four conserved cysteines. The γ (single C) and δ (CX3C) classes of chemokines have only recently been coined, having one (lymphotactin; fractalkine or neurotactin) member each, respectively. As exemplified by the first CXC member described, IL-8 (22), most CXC chemokines activate neutrophils, whereas the CC chemokines act upon different sets of lymphocyte subsets, monocytes, as well as eosinophilic and basophilic granulocytes (23) (Table 1). The overwhelming interest in chemokine receptors stems from the recent findings that CXCR4 and CCR2b,—3, and—5 function as important coreceptors for virus internalization and disease upon infection with HIV-1 and HIV-2 (23).
IP-10 and MCP-1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia
Published in Autoimmunity, 2019
Xian Zhang, Donglei Zhang, Huiyuan Li, Renchi Yang
Chemokines are a family of small cytokines, or signaling proteins secreted by cells. They have been classified into four main subfamilies: CXC, CC, CX3C and XC. All of these proteins exert their biological effects by interacting with G protein-linked transmembrane receptors called chemokine receptors that are selectively found on the surfaces of their target cells [6]. They are also recognized as the key factors in immunoregulatory activities, such as cytokine production and Th1/Th2 cells induction [7]. IFN-γ-inducible protein of 10 kilodaltons (IP-10), also termed as CXCL10, chemoattracts activated T lymphocytes and natural killer cells by binding to chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3) [8,9]. It has been reported that IP-10 is related with various Th1-dominant autoimmune diseases [10]. While monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), also termed as CCL2, is a β-chemokine that is thought to be responsible for monocytes and T lymphocytes recruitment through its chemokine receptor CCR2 in acute inflammatory conditions and believed to enhance the Th-2 mediated response in some pathological state [11].
Platelet lysate as a serum replacement for skin cell culture on biomimetic PCL nanofibers
Published in Platelets, 2018
Vera Sovkova, Karolina Vocetkova, Michala Rampichova, Andrea Mickova, Matej Buzgo, Vera Lukasova, Jana Dankova, Eva Filova, Alois Necas, Evzen Amler
Platelets are intensively studied and used in various medical fields, such as orthopedics [1,2], plastic surgery [3], dentistry [4] and dermatology [5,6], since they mediate wound closure and healing. Upon cellular activation, platelets release numerous bioactive molecules. The cocktail of growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in cell communication and influences cell fate. In addition, platelets contain different members of the interleukin cytokine family (ILs), which are able to stimulate cell maturation and chemotaxis [7]. Chemokines are small proteins that attract cells and play a complex role in the coordination of the immune responses [8].
Cancer and immunity: who is shaping whom?
Published in International Reviews of Immunology, 2021
Himanshu Kumar
Chemokines are small-size cytokine-like proteins secreted by different immune and nonimmune cells that mainly facilitate immune cell movement toward higher concentration through chemokine receptors. Various classes of chemokine are produced by cells, and they play an important role in various immunological processes such as inflammation and immune homeostasis. The expression and function of chemokines alter significantly in various infectious and noninfectious diseases. The third review article in this issue by Zangouei et al. discusses the role of chemokines in bladder cancer. The article describes the interaction between immune cells and bladder cancer tissues and discusses the role of an immune activator (Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine) in the treatment of bladder cancer. It also highlights the importance of chemokines and chemokine receptors as a marker for the early detection of this cancer, as well as for cancer progression and metastasis [3]. This article will be of particular interest to oncoimmunologists and immunologists working on the fundamental and/or developmental aspects of cancer diagnostics (Figure 1).
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