Role of chemokines in ischemic neuronal stress.

Chemokines constitute a large family of structurally related small cytokines originally identified as the factors regulating the migration of leukocytes in inflammatory and immune responses. Enhanced production and release of chemokines are observed also in the central nervous system under diverse neuronal stresses including ischemia, axonal injury, and neurotoxic substances such as an Abeta-peptide. There is growing evidence that brain chemokines play crucial roles in the neuro-glio-vascular interaction underlying the pathology of various brain disorders. Here the evidence of the involvement of chemokines in ischemic brain injury is reviewed.