Chemokines: A New Peptide Family of Neuromodulators

摘要: ABSTRACT Chemokines are a family of small, inducible, secreted proteins that chemoattract and activate immune nonimmune cells by interacting with G protein-coupled receptors on their target cells. They thus mediate inflammatory responses in wide range pathologies, including neuroimmune neuroinflammatory conditions. Also, some chemokines play major roles tissue/organ development both during embryogenesis throughout life. In particular, they take part number aspects concerning brain like neuronal migration, axonal guidance, process formation. Recently, evidence was provided chemokine constitutively expressed highly regionalized fashion neurons the central nervous system where can directly modulate activity neurotransmitter release. It is these function we address this paper, taking as an example SDF-1 its receptor CXCR4. peptides (60–100 aa) have been discovered for responses. all capability to leukocytes sites injury or infection. also share other effects involved tissue repair such hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, growth regulation. All signal through (GPCR). general, several bind same receptor, and, conversely, given may recognize more than one receptor. However, there exceptions unique ligand-receptor pairs exist. To date, 50 about 20 identified. Their classification nomenclature be found reviews [ 5 , 7 25 ]. Interestingly, shown serve coreceptors HIV entry into Clearly, comprehensive review preceding large mediators would largely beyond scope paper. The interested reader referred excellent recent cover topics 2 32 has become apparent over past years virtually pathologies present component. This includes neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's disease; autoimmune diseases, sclerosis; pathologic conditions, injury, stroke, ischemia. Neuroinflammation induces expression activated astrocytes microglia, suggesting involvement activation defense mechanisms. These action comprehensively reviewed elsewhere 29 addition, it recently recognized role neuromodulators normal adult brain, acting respect somehow classical neuropeptides discussed series papers. emergent concept illustrate reviewing results pertaining functions