Chemokines are a superfamily of small proteins which play a crucial role in immune and inflammatory reactions and in viral infection. They attract and activate leukocytes and regulate diverse cellular systems and organs ranging from blood vessels to the central nervous system. This book provides an overview of the main structural and functional features of chemokines. It presents recent studies which indicate that chemokines regulate the trafficking of dendritic cells and hence the activation of specific immunity and the subsequent orientation of immunity. Further contributions focus on the role of chemokines in the regulation of angiogenesis, and the interplay of HIV with chemokines and their receptors. Given the role of chemokines in diverse human diseases, their pharmacology is a prime target for research. In the last chapter, strategies to develop chemokine antagonists are discussed. Written by experienced investigators and summarizing current trends in this fast-moving field, this well-organized volume will be a useful reference for immunologists, virologists, oncologists, pharmacologists and neurobiologists.
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