Chemokines: their role in rheumatoid arthritis.
Chemokines are small proteins that can act on cells that express matching receptors. They are best known for their role in migration of cells, especially immune cells. Chemokine/chemokine-receptor pairs are often functionally categorized into three groups: inflammatory, homeostatic, and angiogenic/angiostatic, although functions sometimes overlap. Interfering with the interaction between chemokines and their receptors is currently under investigation as a therapeutic strategy in rheumatoid arthritis.
Vergunst
Clarissa E
CE
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, F4-218, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, NL-1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.e.vergunst@amc.nl
Tak
Paul P
PP
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism
D018925:Chemokines; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine