CXC Chemokines and Angiogenesis of Cancer

Chemokines play important roles in the regulation of immunity,angiogenesis and mediation of organ-specific metastases of cancer.The CXC chemokine family can promote or inhibit the angiogenesis,in the presence or absence of the glutamic acid-leucine-arginine motif(Glu-Leu-Arg,ELR motif)at the NH2-terminus.The CXC chemokines with ELR(ELR+)are promoters of angiogenesis,and mediate their angiogenic activity via CXCR2 on endothelium.Nevertheless,the CXC chemokines without ELR(ELR-)are inhibitors of angiogenesis,and,through CXCR3 on endothelium,can mediate their angiostatic activity.