Cytokines and Chemokines Information

Cytokines are small proteins secreted by cells that enable cell-cell communication through pathway signaling. Different classes of cytokines have functions such as modulating inflammation, initiating cell proliferation or cellular differentiation. Most cytokines and chemokines are produced by T cells and other white blood cells and thus are important for immune system function, but they also influence processes throughout the body. In addition to immune response, cytokines can modulate bone formation, angiogenesis, cell cycle, apoptosis, and more.

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Chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) are a specific family of cytokines that cause immune cells to be attracted and migrate to one another. Chemokine ligands and receptors are important in immune system function, especially for T cells, as well as for cells like macrophages and dendritic cells that must migrate to perform their functions. Chemokines influence other cellular processes such as angiogenesis, embryonic development, and cell-cell adhesion, and exert their effects through G-protein coupled receptors.

Chemokines are a structurally defined subset of cytokines. Whereas both cytokines and chemokines are small, soluble proteins excreted by cells, chemokines are distinguished by the presence of a conserved motif of cysteine residues that form disulfide bonds in the functional protein.

Chemokines exhibit one of four related structural motifs as shown and described below.

CXCL6, also known as GCP-2 in humans or LIX in mice, is a connective tissue-derived CXCL chemokine that signals through the CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors. Expressed in monocytes, platelets, endothelial cells, and mast cells, CXCL6 is a highly selective chemoattractant of neutrophils and exhibits anti-angiogenic activity that suggests cancer-fighting potential.

Eotaxin (CCL11) is a CCL chemokine produced by IFN-γ-stimulated endothelial cells and TNF-activated monocytes that signals through the CCR3 receptor. Eotaxin selectively chemoattracts eosinophils and, along with eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3, plays a key role in the regulation of eosinophil recruitment in asthmatic lung and allergic reactions.

CXCL1, also known as GRO-α/MGSA in humans, KC in mice and CINC-1 in rats, is a CXCL chemokine secreted predominately by splenic cells that contributes to neutrophil activation during inflammation. CXCL1 also contributes to melanoma-related pathogenesis through stimulation of mitogenesis.

RANTES (CCL5) is a CCL chemokine that can signal through the CCR1, CCR3, CCR5, and US28 (cytomegalovirus) receptors. A chemoattractant of monocytes, memory T cells (CD4+/CD45RO), basophils, and eosinophils, RANTES also has the capability to inhibit certain strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV.

Key to cell types:

Thermo Fisher Scientific is pleased to offer Gibco Peprotech functional recombinant cytokines and chemokines as well as a vast collection of Invitrogen antibodies for your research and cell modulation endeavors.

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1. Hughes CE, Nibbs RJB. A guide to chemokines and their receptors. FEBS J. 2018;285(16):2944–2971. doi:10.1111/febs.14466 
2. Zlotnik A, Yoshie O. Chemokines: a new classification system and their role in immunity. Immunity 2000;12(2):121–127. doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(00)80165-x. PMID: 10714678.