OBJECTIVE: To review the available information regarding chemotactic cytokines and their possible implications in @entity1 reproduction. DESIGN: A thorough literature and MEDLINE search was conducted to identify studies relating to the role of chemokines in ovulation, menstruation, implantation, cervical ripening and @entity3152 , and @entity46 . RESULT(S): Chemokines mediate leukocyte traffic through their specific receptors in various tissues. Although four families have been described to date, two remain the major subfamilies: alpha-chemokines (with @entity687 as representative for this group), and beta-chemokines (with @entity2842 as representative). @entity687 , @entity2842 , and growth-regulated oncogene-alpha are involved in follicular development and @entity1146 , ovulation, steroidogenesis, and corpus luteum function. @entity687 showed cycle-dependent expression in @entity1 endometrium, and at the same time, stimulated endometrial stromal cell growth, acting as an autocrine growth factor. @entity687 has been identified in @entity1 amnion, chorion, decidua, and villous placenta, and its level increases during labor. Levels of @entity687 correlate with the release of collagenases, a crucial step that regulates the process of cervical extracellular matrix remodeling. The levels of @entity2842 ; regulated on activation, normal T-expressed and secreted ( @entity5737 ); @entity687 ; and growth-regulated oncogene-alpha are elevated in the peritoneal fluid of @entity1 with @entity46 , and they correlate with the stage of the disease. CONCLUSION(S): Chemokines play a relevant role in many physiologic and pathologic situations, such as ovulation, menstruation, implantation, cervical ripening and @entity3152 , and @entity46 . Their regulation soon may provide new therapeutic strategies.

Chemokines and XXXX reproduction.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'human'] @entity5737 :: ('6352', 'Gene') :: ['RANTES'] @entity3152 :: ('MESH:D007752', 'Disease') :: ['preterm labor'] @entity2842 :: ('6347', 'Gene') :: ['monocyte chemotactic protein-1'] @entity46 :: ('MESH:D004715', 'Disease') :: ['endometriosis'] @entity1146 :: ('MESH:D018633', 'Disease') :: ['atresia'] @entity687 :: ('3576', 'Gene') :: ['Interleukin-8', 'interleukin-8']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
