[Molecular medicine of chemokine receptors]

Chemokines belong to a family of small secreted proteins that play essential roles in the recruitment and activation of leukocytes at the sites of inflammation. Thirteen chemokine receptors have already been cloned and shown to be organized with a structure of seven-transmembrane-domain receptors, a structure typical of classical G-protein coupled receptors. Most of chemokine receptors display overlapping specificities and most of chemokines bind several different receptors. Engagement of receptors results in the elevation of cytosolic calcium and activation of PKC via inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol, respectively. Furthermore, involvement of protein tyrosine kinases, MAP kinase and P13 kinase in the signaling pathway is demonstrated.