Chemokines

Abstract

have been divided into the two major subfamilies on the Osaka-Sayama 589-8511 basis of the arrangement of the two N-terminal cysteine Japan residues, CXC and CC, depending on whether the first two cysteine residues have an amino acid between them Chemokines are a group of small ‫41-8ف(‬ kDa), mostly (CXC) or are adjacent (CC). The genes for these families basic, structurally related molecules that regulate cell are currently designated SCY (small secreted cytokine) trafficking of various types of leukocytes through interwith SCYa corresponding to the CC subfamily and SCYb actions with a subset of seven-transmembrane, G proto the CXC subfamily. Two other classes of chemokines tein-coupled receptors. About 40 chemokines have now have been described: lymphotactin (C or SCYc) and been identified in humans. They mainly act on neutrofractalkine (CX3C or SCYd). The former one lacks cystephils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils and ines one and three of the typical chemokine structure play a pivotal role in host defense mechanisms. The (Kelner et al., 1994), while the latter one exhibits three study of chemokines has recently overlapped more with amino acids between the first two cysteines and is also other fields of immunology. It has now become evident the only membrane-bound chemokine through a mucinthat chemokines play fundamental roles in the developlike stalk (Bazan et al., 1997). The proposed chemokine ment, homeostasis, and function of the immune system. nomenclature is based on the chemokine receptor no-The rapid increase in the number of chemokines along menclature currently in use, which uses CC, CXC, XC, with other complex issues described below have led to or CX3C followed by R (for receptor) and then a number. a situation where a newcomer attempting to understand Thus, we have CCR1-9, CXCR1-5, XCR1 (the lymphothis field faces a daunting task. In this review, our goal tactin receptor), and CX3CR1 (the fractalkine receptor). is to present a concise overview of the chemokine super-Basically, the new nomenclature replaces R with L (lifamily. The chemokines have a wide range of effects in gand instead of receptor) to designate the ligands and many different cell types beyond the immune system, uses CC for the SCYa family, CXC for SCYb, XC for including, for example, various cells of the central ner-SCYc, and CX3C for SCYd. The numbering system is vous system (Ma et al., 1998) or endothelial cells, where the one already in use to designate the genes encoding they result in either angiogenic or angiostatic effects each chemokine. Thus, a given gene will have the same (Strieter et al., 1995). However, the scope of this review number as its protein ligand (for example, ScyA 27 is makes it difficult to provide a comprehensive view of the gene encoding CCL27), a correlation that should such a complex and expanding field. For this reason, further simplify matters. Besides eliminating ambiguwe will focus on several areas of chemokine biology of ities, the new nomenclature directly indicates the class particular in...

Chemokines in tumor development and progression

“…Systematic chemokine nomenclature is based on their cysteine subclass roots, followed by "L" for "ligand" [3]. The numbers correspond to the number used in the corresponding gene nomenclature.…”

“…The CXC chemokines are further grouped based on the presence or absence of a 3-amino acid sequence, glutamic acid-leucine-arginine (the "ELR" motif), immediately preceding the CXC sequence [4]. Because most chemokine receptors can bind to a single chemokine subclass, the nomenclature system of chemokine receptors is rooted by the chemokine subclass specificity, followed by "R" for "receptor" and the corresponding number [3] (Table).…”

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by the stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXCR4 system in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

“…Chemokines are a large family of small (7-15 kDa) structurally related heparin-binding proteins that have been identified as attractants of different types of blood leukocytes to sites of infection and inflammation (1,2). They are produced locally in the tissues and act on leukocytes through selective membranebound G-protein-coupled receptors, the two major subfamilies of which are designated as CCR and CXCR.…”

Role of CCR4 Ligands, CCL17 and CCL22, During Schistosoma mansoni Egg-Induced Pulmonary Granuloma Formation in Mice

“…4,5 This task is daunting considering that more than 40 human chemokines have been discovered and these factors bind to at least 17 receptors, many in a redundant and promiscuous manner. 6 The recognition that certain chemokines direct the recruitment of both Th2 cells and other effector cells of allergic inflammation led to the pursuit of therapeutic strategies that relied on the targeting of these chemokines. 7 Unfortunately, it has become clear that chemokines and chemokine receptors detected in diseased clinical tissue do not necessarily reflect an actual role for these mediators and their receptors in the disease process.…”