The role of chemokines and chemokine receptors in progressive renal diseases.

Chemokines are members of a growing family of chemotactic cytokines, which induce recruitment of select leukocyte subpopulations. Additionally, they can activate leukocyte effector functions, are involved in the balance between proliferation and apoptosis, modulate angiogenesis, and regulate fibroblast functions. Most intrinsic renal cells can express chemokines on stimulation in vitro. Induction of chemokines and infiltration of chemokine receptor-bearing cells has been shown in a variety of animal models of renal diseases, as well as in human diseases and allograft rejection. This overview gives a short introduction into chemokines and current aspects of their role in progressive human kidney diseases.