Chemokine Receptors

Chemokine receptors are found predominantly on leukocytes and are important in leukocyte trafficking, as well as leukocyte-dependent processes such as immune surveillance, immune response and pathological inflammation. Chemokines have a role in angiogenesis, apoptosis, T-cell differentiation and phagocyte activation, while inappropriate or prolonged expression of chemokines and their receptors can lead to autoimmune disease by incorrectly targeting self antigens for destruction by cytotoxic T-cells and macrophages.

There are 19 chemokine receptors and each one has a distinct chemokine and leukocyte specificity, although these specificities can overlap, with a single receptor being able to bind multiple ligands, while a single ligand may be able to bind multiple receptors. In addition, different receptors coexpressed in the same cell may induce the same response and, conversely a single receptor may be able to distinguish activation by different ligands leading to activation of distinct signaling pathways.