[Chemokines in central nervous system pathology]

Chemokines are a family of proinflammatory cytokines which are able to stimulate directional migration of leukocytes in vitro and in vivo. Because of this feature chemokines may be potent mediators of inflammatory processes. Numerous observations indicate that chemokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and infectious inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS). Moreover, there are many reports showing increased expression of some chemokines in experimental models of brain mechanical injury and ischaemia. Several lines of cultured CNS cells are able to produce chemokines in vitro. All those data suggest that chemokines are important mediators of CNS pathology and that they can be a promising target for future therapy of neurological diseases.