CHEMOKINES - LEUKOCYTE RECRUITMENT AND ACTIVATION CYTOKINES

Chemokines are a family of structurally related proteins that share th e ability to induce migration of specific subsets of leucocytes. These specialised cytokines play a critical part in the generation of cellu lar inflammation, both in the protective responses to invading pathoge ns and in the pathological processes associated with infection and imm une-mediated diseases. Chemokines are more than simple chemotactic fac tors, since they are also implicated in leucocyte activation, angiogen esis, and antimicrobial functions, Including a protective role in HIV infection. These molecules provide potentially valuable targets for th erapeutic intervention in a wide range of diseases.