Chemokines are a family of small signaling proteins (also known as cytokines) that play essential roles in directing the migration and positioning of immune cells within the body. They are involved in various physiological and pathological processes, including inflammation, immune response, and development. Chemokines are characterized by their ability to induce chemotaxis, which is the movement of cells in response to a concentration gradient of the chemokine. They typically act by binding to specific cell surface receptors on target cells, triggering intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cellular movement. Chemokines are crucial for orchestrating the recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection or injury, as well as for controlling the movement of immune cells within lymphoid tissues.
