What are chemokines?

During the past ten years, a new cytokine family, endowed with chemotactic activities on various leukocyte populations, has been discovered. It is the chemokine family. Chemokine activities are mediated by seven-transmembrane -domain, G protein coupled receptors. Chemokines are essential in the recru itment of circulating leukocytes to inflammatory sites, taking part both in leukocyte trafficking and leukocyte activation. Chemokines are also involv ed in angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation. They contribute to the dif ferentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors. Moreover, the interest for chemokines and chemokine receptors has grown recently followin g the discovery of their role on HIV infection.