Chemokine release

Chemokine release is a complex biological process involving the secretion of small signaling proteins called chemokines by diverse cell types, including leukocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells [6, 8]. These proteins function as potent chemoattractants that guide the migration of immune cells to sites of infection, injury, or inflammation by establishing a concentration gradient [1, 7]. While essential for effective host defense and wound healing, dysregulated or chronic chemokine release is a central driver in the pathogenesis of numerous conditions, such as chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and cancer metastasis [2, 12]. In the context of drug development, chemokine release is considered a phenotypic outcome or a biological event rather than a single molecular target [10, 11]. Therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating this process typically involve the use of antagonists against specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as the CCR and CXCR families, or the use of monoclonal antibodies to neutralize specific chemokine ligands [2, 3, 6]. Additionally, small-molecule inhibitors may target upstream intracellular signaling cascades, such as the NF-κB or MAPK pathways, which regulate the synthesis and secretion of these mediators [4, 10, 14].

Other names

Chemokine secretionChemokine productionChemokine-mediated signalingChemokine-mediated chemotaxis

Modulation occurs through antagonism of specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), neutralization of chemokine ligands with monoclonal antibodies, or inhibition of intracellular signaling pathways like NF-κB and MAPK that govern secretion.