Alcohol-chemokine interaction and neurotransmission

Abstract

Chemokines are a large family of small, structurally related proteins (molecular weights ranging from 8 to 14 kDa) that are members of the cytokine family of immune factors. Chemokines share gene and amino acid sequence homology including conserved amino acids that are important for establishing their 3-dimensional or tertiary structure. Chemokines were initially identified in the immune system where they play an important role as mediators of directed cell migration, referred to as chemotaxis [1]. Chemotaxis plays a critical role in host defense against injury and disease and in normal processes of tissue maintenance or development. Chemokines that act to recruit cells of the immune system to a site of injury or infection are considered to be proinflammatory chemokines, whereas chemokines that are involved in chemotaxis during normal processes of tissue maintenance or development are considered to be homeostatic in function.