Chemokine signaling in inflammation

The events that lead to an inflammatory response are characterized by recog nition of the site of injury by inflammatory cells, specific recruitment of subpopulations of leukocytes into tissue, removal of the offending agent a nd "debridement" of the injured cells/tissue, and repair of the site of inj ury with attempts to reestablish normal parenchymal, stromal, and extracell ular matrix relationship. The molecular regulation of this complex physiolo gic process involves the interaction between cell surface, extracellular ma trix, and soluble mediators, such as chemokines. Chemokine activities are m ediated through G-protein coupled receptors. This is the largest known fami ly of cell-surface receptors, which mediate transmission of stimuli as dive rse as hormones, peptides, glycopeptides, and chemokines. In this review, w e will focus on the signaling pathways involved in the production and funct ion of chemokines as they relate to the inflammatory response.