Potential Role of CC Chemokines and their Receptors in the Development of Respiratory Diseases

ABSTRACT

Increasing evidence suggests that the chemokine system coordinates leukocyte migration in immunity and inflammation, involving in the pathogenesis of many pulmonary diseases. Chemokines are small proteins which interact with specific receptors to exert their chemotactic functions for inflammatory cells and constitutive cells. Among the complex system, CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) represent a subfamily of chemokine receptor, which is considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by disordered inflammation and immunity, among which some respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury, comprise one important part. The present paper reviewed the research of possible relationship and progress between this system and human lung diseases. Chemokines and their receptors are essential components of Th1- and Th2-mediated responses via the recruitment of lymphocytes and macrophages. The local expression of homeostatic chemokines in pulmonary also plays an important role in protective immune responses. Thus, it is important to understand the potential role of CCRs in respiratory diseases and it may provide exciting new targets for therapeutic intervention.

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