Role of CXC-chemokines in the pathogenesis of the acute respiratory distress syndrome

The recruitment of leukocytes is a hallmark during an inflammatory response in the lung. Chemokines, together with adhesion molecules, cytokines, and proteases, are essential for this directed migration into the inflamed tiss ue. Over 40 different chemokines have been characterized and classed in to four subfamilies. Each chemokine causes chemotactic behaviour in specific s ubpopulations of inflammatory cells. In the pathogenesis of the acute respi ratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) see m to play a crucial role. After their activation, they damage the alveolo-c apillary membrane via adherence to the stimulated endothelium and alteratio n of the endothelial permeability. A synopsis of structure, biology and pat hobiology of the CXC-chemokine-family, especially chemoattractant for PMN, and their role in the pathogenesis of ARDS is the topic of this mini-review .