Chemokines in autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and insulin-dependent diab etes (IDD) are believed to be mediated by pathogenic CD4(+) autoreactive T cells which mediate selective destruction of specific host cells. Interrupt ing the trafficking of such T cells from host circulation to the sites of p athology, such as the central nervous system in the case of MS and the panc reas in the case of IDD, potentially offers a novel opportunity for therape utic intervention in these diseases. The following summarizes our evolving thoughts on the role of the chemokine network in MS and IDD, and focuses on the chemokine receptor CXCR3 as a potential target for impeding T-cell-med iated destruction in these disease settings.