Changes

The chemokines are a superfamily of cytokines, all related in terms of sequence and gene structure. The family is also known as the 'small cytokine' family (scy) or the intercrines. All have a relatively small molecular weight of ~5-10kDa and can be divided in one of two groups based on the position of the cystein residues (important for the tertiary structure):

The chemokines are a superfamily of cytokines, all related in terms of sequence and gene structure. The family is also known as the 'small cytokine' family (scy) or the intercrines. All have a relatively small molecular weight of ~5-10kDa and can be divided in one of two groups based on the position of the cystein residues (important for the tertiary structure):

*C-C subgroup- cysteine residues are adjacent to each other. Important members include:

*C-C subgroup- cysteine residues are adjacent to each other. Important members include:

**RANTES - Regulated upon Activation, Normal T cell Expressed and Secreted (CCL5)

**RANTES - Regulated upon Activation, Normal T cell Expressed and Secreted (CCL5)

*C-X-C subgroup- residues are separated by another amino acid. Important members include:

*C-X-C subgroup- residues are separated by another amino acid. Important members include:

**Interleukin 8 (CXCL8)

**Interleukin 8 (CXCL8)

**MGSA - melanoma growth stimulatory activity

**MGSA - melanoma growth stimulatory activity (CXCL2)

**PAF4 - platelet activating factor 4

**PF4 - platelet factor 4 (CXCL4)

**βTG - β-thromboglobulin (CXCL7)

**βTG - β-thromboglobulin (CXCL7)

Chemokines are released by many cell types, and are present in the earliest phase of infection, with actions including the following:

Chemokines are released by many cell types, and are present in the earliest phase of infection, with actions including the following: