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Chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in the central nervous system

J Hesselgesser1, R Horuk

  • 1Department of Immunology, Berlex Biosciences, Richmond, California 94806, USA.

Journal of Neurovirology
|April 6, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Chemokines, or chemotactic cytokines, are crucial immune cell regulators. This review explores their roles in both normal brain function and diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS dementia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) are low molecular weight proteins that orchestrate immune cell activation and migration.
  • Initially identified for their roles in peripheral immunity, chemokines are now recognized for their presence and function within the central nervous system (CNS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the established and emerging roles of chemokines and their receptors in the CNS.
  • To summarize the involvement of chemokines in both normal brain physiology and the pathophysiology of neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on chemokines and their receptors.
  • Analysis of studies detailing chemokine expression and function in the central nervous system.

Main Results:

  • Chemokines are classified into four families (CXC, CC, C, CX3C) based on cysteine residue positions.
  • Chemokines and their receptors are expressed on various CNS cells and are implicated in inflammatory diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS dementia.

Conclusions:

  • Chemokines play significant roles in the central nervous system, influencing both normal brain function and the development of neurological diseases.
  • Understanding chemokine pathways in the brain is critical for developing therapeutic strategies for CNS disorders.

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