Chemokines and the allergic response.

The beta subfamily of chemokines contains cytokine-like factors which are chemotactic for human basophils and eosinophils. The also stimulate these cells to secrete pro-inflammatory substances such as histamine or eosinophil cationic protein. MCAF/MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, RANTES and MIP-1 alpha all attract and stimulate basophils; MCP-1 and MCP-3 are the most potent. RANTES, MCP-3 and to a lesser degree MIP-I alpha are chemotactic factors and activators of eosinophils. Cytokines such as IL3, IL5 and GM CSF can augment the responses of these cells to the various chemokines and function as primers. These substances may have particular importance as mediators of allergic inflammation, particularly the late phase component of the response.