Chemokines – their role in immunotherapy for intraocular inflammation

Abstract

Chemotactic cytokines are responsible for leukocyte migration and the immunopathogenesis of various inflammatory lesions. Together with other types of cytokines, chemokines play a major role in inducing/regulating inflammation and various immune responses. By targeting chemokines, immunotherapies could become another option for treating patients with uveitis. Indeed, a variety of chemokine-based therapies have been tested for their possible application for various pathological diseases, including intraocular inflammation. An example of chemokine-based therapy is anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a therapy, a very successful treatment. Chemokine- and cytokine-based therapies, therefore, appear to be a promising choice for the treatment of intraocular inflammation.