Chemokine

Chemokines are a family of chemoattractant cytokines (small proteins secreted by cells that influence the immune system) which play a vital role in cell migration through venules from blood into tissue and vice versa, and in the induction of cell movement in response to a chemical (chemokine) gradient by a process known as chemotaxis. In addition, chemokines also regulate lymphoid organ development and T-cell differentiation, mediate tumour cell metastasis, and have recently been shown to have a function in the nervous system as neuromodulators.

Chemokine