Chemokines in the pathogenesis of liver disease: so many players with poorly defined roles.

Many new chemokines have been described in recent years, resulting in a new classification of these chemoattractant proteins. The characterization of the biological functions of most chemokines relates to their ability to induce chemotaxis in circulating inflammatory cells. However, it is now clear that chemokines have a much wider biological role, including angiogenesis, carcinogenesis and involvement in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. Our understanding of the role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of disorders of the lungs and brain outstrips that with regard to disorders of the liver. An increased understanding of the role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of liver disease may lead to the development of novel therapies for hepatic disease.