Role of chemokines in glomerular diseases

Various immunological and nonimmunological glomerular diseases were found to be associated with an influx of leukocytes into the diseased kidney. Chemotactic factors are likely to play an important role in determining the characteristic cellular infiltration. The human superfamily of chemoattractant cytokines -so-called chemokines-comprises over 20 members which show different properties in targeting specific subpopulations of leukocytes. Expression and effects of chemokines in renal cell culture, animal models of kidney diseases, and human glomerular diseases are reviewed. A better knowledge of chemokine action and regulation during glomerular inflammation may help to explore new therapeutic strategies in the future.