Chemotaxis, chemokine receptors and human disease

摘要: Cell migration is involved in diverse physiological processes including embryogenesis, immunity, and diseases such as cancer chronic inflammatory disease. The movement of many cell types directed by extracellular gradients diffusible chemicals. This phenomenon, referred to "chemotaxis", was first described 1888 Leber who observed the leukocytes toward sites inflammation. We now know that a large family small proteins, chemokines, serves signals G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), chemokine receptors, detects chemokines guides vivo. Currently, we still little about molecular machineries control gradient sensing immune cells. Fortunately, mechanisms these fundamental aspects chemotaxis appear be evolutionarily conserved, studies lower eukaryotic model systems have allowed us form concepts, uncover components, develop new techniques, test models chemotaxis. These helped our current understanding this complicated behavior. In review, wish mention landmark discoveries research field shaped behavior lay out key questions remain addressed future.