咪喹莫特抑制兔耳瘢痕增生的机制研究

目的:研究咪喹莫特抑制兔耳瘢痕增生的作用及可能机制.方法:选取10只新西兰大耳白兔,雌雄不限,根据本实验室的改良方法建立兔耳瘢痕模型,每只兔耳腹侧做六个直径为1cm的圆形创面,每个相距1.5cm,双侧对称,左耳为实验组涂抹5％咪喹莫特软,右耳为对照组涂抹等量凡士林软膏,待术后14天上皮化均完全后开始涂抹,一日一次.分别于术后14天、21天、28天、35天及42天同一时间点空气栓塞随机处死2只兔子,后沿每个瘢痕边缘外周的0.5cm处环形切下,经瘢痕最凸点直径一切为二,一半固定后行苏木精-伊红(HE)染色及Masson三色法染色,观察形态学差异,测量并计算瘢痕增生指数(Scar elevation index,SEI):另一半用于提取RNA,反转录后行Real-time PCR检测细胞外基质I型胶原(Collagen-I,Col-I),细胞因子IFN-γ及IL-4的表达.结果:HE及Masson染色可见实验组胶原沉积较对照组明显减少,SEI显示空白对照组于术后第21天增生程度达到高峰,其增生程度明显高于实验组;Real-time PCR结果可见实验组Col-I及IL-4的表达在各时间点明显降低,且IFN-γ的表达较对照组增高.结论:咪喹莫特可能通过调节IFN-γ及IL-4的表达来发挥抑制瘢痕增生的作用.     

YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、Th17细胞及其相关细胞因子IL-17与皮肌炎患者疾病活动度和临床指标的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨人软骨糖蛋白-39（YKL-40）、趋化因子配体-27（CCL27）、趋化因子配体-10（CXCL10）、辅助性T细胞17（Th17）及其相关细胞因子白细胞介素-17（IL-17）与皮肌炎患者疾病活动度和临床指标的相关性。方法：选择2020年2月至2022年2月河北北方学院附属第一医院皮肤科收治的80例皮肌炎患者为皮肌炎组,另选取同期40名健康体检人员作为对照组,检测对比两组血清YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平及外周血Th17细胞比例。皮肌炎患者根据病情分为活动期组和缓解期组,比较两组YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平、Th17细胞比例、皮肌炎相关临床指标及肌炎疾病活动性评估视觉模拟量表（MYOACT）评分,采用Pearson相关系数分析YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平、Th17细胞比例与MYOACT评分、皮肌炎相关临床指标的相关性。结果：皮肌炎组的YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平及Th17细胞比例均高于对照组（P＜0.05）。活动期组的YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平及Th17细胞比例均高于缓解期组（P＜0.05）。活动期组的MYOACT评分及红细胞沉降率（ESR）、铁蛋白（Fer）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、肌酸激酶（CK）水平均高于缓解期组（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析显示,皮肌炎患者的YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平、Th17细胞比例与MYOACT评分、ESR、Fer、LDH、CK水平均呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：血清YKL-40、CCL27、CXCL10、IL-17水平及外周血Th17细胞比例与皮肌炎病情严重程度有一定相关性,可作为皮肌炎病情的辅助评估指标。     

间日疟原虫感染患者T细胞应答相关趋化因子水平的检测

T细胞介导的细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答对控制疟原虫红内期感染至关重要。免疫细胞的募集和功能调节受到不同趋化因子的调控。进一步寻找招募T细胞的关键性趋化因子将为针对性调控抗疟免疫应答类型提供有效靶点。通过收集并检测中缅边境地区间日疟原虫感染患者血浆中T细胞应答相关的趋化因子水平,并比较CD4~+T细胞和CD8~+T细胞不同表达水平患者的相应趋化因子表达,发现CXCL9、CXCL10、CXCL11、CXCL13、CCL13和CCL1在间日疟急性感染期均显著升高,CXCL10和CXCL13水平与患者的年龄呈正相关,特别是CXCL10对CD4~+T细胞的募集调控可能起到关键性作用。     

乳腺癌肺转移过程中Th1/Th2型细胞因子的动态变化

探究乳腺癌肺转移模型鼠肺组织内Th1/Th2型细胞因子的动态变化。利用皮下接种或尾静脉注射乳腺癌细胞系-4T1细胞的方式,建立乳腺癌肺转移模型。在4T1细胞接种后第7、14、21天分离模型鼠肺组织,通过HE染色、墨汁染色确认模型建立成功后,提取肺组织总RNA,采用Real-time RT-PCR方法,检测肺组织内IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-5、IL-13表达水平的变化。结果显示,尾静脉注射4T1细胞的BALB/c鼠,肺组织内Th1型细胞因子水平呈现先升高后逐渐下降的趋势;而皮下接种4T1细胞的BALB/c鼠,其肺组织内Th1型细胞因子水平一致处于较低水平。与Th1型细胞因子不同,肺组织内Th2型细胞因子水平无论在皮下接种鼠亦或是尾静脉注射鼠均表现为逐渐升高趋势。结果表明,乳腺癌肺转移过程中出现Th1/Th2型细胞因子失衡,并且由刚开始的Th1优势应答逐渐转变为Th2优势应答。     

全蝎软膏联用积雪苷软膏治疗增生性瘢痕的效果评价

目的:观察全蝎软膏联用积雪苷软膏在早期治疗增生性瘢痕的治疗效果,并进一步探对组织中TGF-β信号通路的影响。方法:选取新西兰大白兔建立兔耳增生性瘢痕模型,随机平均分为对照组、模型组、全蝎软膏组、积雪苷软膏组和联合用药组;术后立即在治疗组患处涂抹全蝎软膏和/或积雪苷软膏,空白组和模型组涂抹PBS处理,连续用药35天并拍照记录各组瘢痕的治疗情况;于术后35 d收集各组兔耳组织样本进行病理检测、荧光定量PCR和western blot检测。结果:模型组于术后35天可见明显增生性瘢痕,各治疗组中联合用药组比单独药物治疗组的抑制效果更为显著,经治疗后无增生性瘢痕出现。H.E染色结果显示,与模型组相比,各治疗组经治疗后组织纤维化程度均减轻,胶原蛋白量均有不同程度降低,但联合用药可显著改善组织纤维化程度。荧光定量PCR和western blot检测结果表明,与模型组相比,治疗组组织内的MMP水平均呈上升趋势,Ⅰ型胶原蛋白(ColⅠ)、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白(Col Ⅲ)及Samd 4蛋白水平均不同程度下降,联合用药组差异最为显著,治疗效果优于单独用药组。结论:全蝎软膏联用积雪苷软膏可有效改善组织内细胞纤维化水平并减少胶原蛋白的沉积,可通过Smad 4蛋白的表达量调控TGF-β信号通路而抑制增生性瘢痕的形成。     

IL-25在支气管哮喘中的作用

白介素25(Interleukin-25,IL-25)是细胞因子IL-17家族的成员之一,主要由活化的Th细胞和肥大细胞所分泌。IL-25能够诱导释放Th2型细胞因子IL-4、IL-5、IL-13,炎性细胞因子IL-6,Th1型趋化因子CXCL10、CXCL9、CCL5的产生,导致嗜酸性粒细胞的浸润,在支气管哮喘的发病中起重要作用,本文就此作一综述。     

人参皂苷Rb_1增生性瘢痕影响的研究

本实验通过建立增生性瘢痕的动物模型探讨人参皂苷Rb1对增生性瘢痕的治疗效果。选取十分成熟的兔耳增生性瘢痕模型,每只兔子做5处增生性瘢痕,每个瘢痕做不同处理:空白对照组(a),生理盐水注射组(b),药物浓度分别为:0.2 mg/mL(c)、0.4 mg/mL(d)、1.0 mg/mL(e),共5组。通过HE、VG染色,计算HI和胶原纤维含量等发现人参皂苷Rb1可使得瘢痕增生情况有所抑制。免疫组织化学上相关胶原Ⅰ型蛋白和Caspase 3的表达以及原位杂交检测胶原Ⅰ型mRNA的表达从更深的角度表明了该药物有促进成纤维细胞凋亡的趋势和抑制胶原增生的现象。实验结果表明人参皂苷Rb1有抑制增生性瘢痕发展的作用。     

温补脾肾法对脾肾阳虚型UC大鼠结肠组织趋化因子信号通路的影响

目的寻找脾肾阳虚型UC的特异性靶点。方法 96只Wistar大鼠随机分为模型组、高剂量组、中剂量组、低剂量组、SASP组,治疗组给予相应药物灌胃治疗。分别选取空白组大鼠结肠组织与模型组大鼠病变部位结肠组织进行高通量测序。RT-qPCR法检测筛选的趋化因子的基因表达。结果与模型组大鼠相比较,根据q-value≦0.05,fold-change≧1.5筛选出空白组大鼠差异表达的基因。通过GO功能分类分析显示,差异基因功能主要富集在生物过程(biological process,BP)、细胞成分(cellular component,CC)、分子功能(molecular function,MF)三个层面。通过差异基因KEGG富集分析发现趋化因子信号通路中CXCL1、CXCL2、CXCR2、CXCL6、CCL7、CCL12基因表达显著上调;并通过RT-qPCR法验证,以上因子的基因表达变化与测序结果一致,经温补脾肾方药治疗后,以上因子表达明显下调。结论脾肾阳虚型溃疡性结肠炎趋化因子信号通路中CXCL1、CXCL2、CXCR2、CXCL6、CCL7、CCL12基因表达显著上调,可作为UC黏膜炎症活动的客观指标。具有温补脾肾作用的理中汤合四神丸复方中药颗粒可以有效下调以上因子的表达,减缓炎症反应,促进受损伤的结肠黏膜的修复。     

菌群失调小鼠感染鼠伤寒沙门菌后Th1和Th2细胞因子的动态研究

目的研究鼠伤寒沙门菌感染小鼠在菌群失调下Th细胞因子的动态变化,以探讨菌群失调对沙门菌感染的免疫机制。方法分别建立菌群失调、感染和空白对照的小鼠模型。各组动物在感染不同时点处死,观察小肠、肝脏和脾脏病理改变。采用流式细胞仪检测脾脏细胞中IFN-γ和IL-4表达,以此代表Th1和Th2细胞。结果菌群失调组病理损害最重,Th1明显增加,表达水平高,Th2变化不大,Th1/Th2比值升高。结论菌群失调后,能够加重小鼠感染鼠伤寒沙门菌引起的的Th1型反应,产生炎症性损伤。     

慢性牙周炎患者血清CGRP、PGE2、CCL20与牙周临床指标和Th17/Treg失衡的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探究慢性牙周炎患者血清降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）、前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）、CC趋化因子配体20（CCL20）与牙周临床指标和辅助性T淋巴细胞17/调节性T淋巴细胞（Th17/Treg）失衡的相关性。方法：选取2020年5月-2022年5月海南省妇女儿童医学中心收治的91例慢性牙周炎患者,根据其严重程度分为轻度组（39例）、中度组（36例）、重度组（16例）,比较三组血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20、牙周临床指标[出血指数（BI）、探诊深度（PD）、附着丧失（AL）、菌斑指数（PLI）]、外周血Th17细胞比例、Treg细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值,采用Pearson相关分析血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20与牙周临床指标和Th17/Treg失衡的相关性。结果：与轻度组比较,中度组、重度组血清CGRP、Treg细胞比例显著降低（P＜0.05）,血清PGE₂、CCL20、BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值显著增高（P＜0.05）;与中度组比较,重度组血清CGRP、Treg细胞比例显著降低（P＜0.05）,血清PGE₂、CCL20、BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值显著增高（P＜0.05）。相关性结果提示,血清PGE₂、CCL20水平与BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与Treg细胞比例呈负相关（P＜0.05）;血清CGRP水平与BI、PD、PLI、AL、Th17细胞比例、Th17/Treg比值呈负相关（P＜0.05）,与Treg细胞比例呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：慢性牙周炎患者血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20水平与疾病严重程度、牙周临床指标及Th17/Treg失衡显著相关,血清CGRP、PGE₂、CCL20可能通过影响Th17/Treg平衡参与慢性牙周炎的发生和发展。     

Ursolic acid inhibits Th17 cell differentiation via STAT3/RORγt pathway and suppresses Schwann cell-mediated Th17 cell migration by reducing CXCL9/10 expression

Th17 cells represent important immune cells. Ursolic acid (UA) can regulate immune cell activities. This study was aimed to explore the effects of UA on Th17 cell differentiation and Schwann cell(SCs)-mediated migration and the potential mechanism. Naïve CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from rat peripheral blood, induced for Th17 cell differentiation, and treated with UA. The proportion of Th17 cells was detected by flow cytometry assay. SCs were co-cultured with Th17 cells. Th17 cell migration was detected by Transwell assay. The molecule expression was determined by Western blot and qRT-PCR. UA inhibited the Th17 cell differentiation and suppressed the STAT3/RORγt pathway. STAT3 overexpression up-regulated p-STAT3 and RORγt expression and promoted Th17 cell differentiation under the UA treatment. In LPS- and IFN-γ-stimulated-SCs, UA suppressed the expression of chemokines CXCL9/10, but had no significant effect of CCL20 expression. The expression CXCL9/10 receptor CXCR3 was higher in Th17 cells than that in Treg cells, while the expression CCL20 receptor CCR6 was lower in Th17 cells than that in Treg cells. UA, anti-CXCR3, and anti-CCR6 treatment inhibited SCs-mediated Th17 cell migration, and anti-CXCR3 exerted stronger inhibitory effect than Anti-CCR6. UA inhibited Th17 cell differentiation through STAT3/RORγt pathway and suppressed Th17 cell migration through down-regulating CXCL9/10 expression in SCs.     

Differential expression of inflammatory chemokines by Th1- and Th2-cell promoting dendritic cells: a role for different mature dendritic cell populations in attracting appropriate effector cells to peripheral sites of inflammation

Protective immunity to pathogens depends on efficient immune responses adapted to the type of pathogen and the infected tissue. Dendritic cells (DC) play a pivotal role in directing the effector T cell response to either a protective T helper type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) phenotype. Human monocyte-derived DC can be differentiated into Th1-, Th2- or Th1/Th2-promoting DC in vitro upon activation with microbial compounds or cytokines. Host defence is highly dependent on mobile leucocytes and cell trafficking is largely mediated by the interactions of chemokines with their specific receptors expressed on the surface of leucocytes. The production of chemokines by mature effector DC remains elusive. Here we assess the differential production of both inflammatory and homeostatic chemokines by monocyte-derived mature Th1/Th2-, Th1- or Th2-promoting DC and its regulation in response to CD40 ligation, thereby mimicking local engagement with activated T cells. We show that mature Th1- and Th1/Th2-, but not Th2-promoting DC, selectively express elevated levels of the inflammatory chemokines CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1alpha, CCL4/MIP-1beta and CCL5/RANTES, as well as the homeostatic chemokine CCL19/MIP-3beta. CCL21/6Ckine is preferentially expressed by Th2-promoting DC. Production of the Th1-attracting chemokines, CXCL9/Mig, CXCL10/IP-10 and CXCL11/I-TAC, is restricted to Th1-promoting DC. In contrast, expression of Th2-associated chemokines does not strictly correlate with the Th2-promoting DC phenotype, except for CCL22/MDC, which is preferentially expressed by Th2-promoting DC. Because inflammatory chemokines and Th1-associated chemokines are constitutively expressed by mature Th1-promoting DC and CCL22/MDC is constitutively expressed by mature Th2-promoting DC, we propose a novel role for mature DC present in inflamed peripheral tissues in orchestrating the immune response by recruiting appropriate leucocyte populations to the site of pathogen entry.     

Monocyte-derived dendritic cells exposed to Der p 1 allergen enhance the recruitment of Th2 cells: major involvement of the chemokines TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen - presenting cells that can orientate the immune response towards a Th1 or a Th2 type. DC produce chemokines that are involved in the recruitment of either Th1 cells, such as IP10 (CXCL10), Th2 cells such as TARC (CCL17) and MDC (CCL22), or non-polarized T cells such as RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-lalpha (CCL3). We investigated whether monocyte-derived DC (MD-DC) generated from healthy donors or from patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) and exposed to the cysteine-protease Der p 1(allergen of Dpt), could upregulate the expression of chemokines involved in type 1 or type 2 T cell recruitment. MD-DC were pulsed with either Der p 1 or with LPS as the control and the chemokines produced were evaluated using ELISA and chemotaxis assays. Der p 1-pulsed DC from allergic patients showed increased TARC (CCL17) and MDC (CCL22) production without modifying IP-10 (CXCL10) release. Der p 1-pulsed DC from healthy donors showed only increased IP-10 (CXCL10) secretion. RANTES (CCL5) and MIP-lalpha (CCL3) production were similarly increased when DC were from healthy or allergic donors. The selective Th2 clone recruitment activity of supernatants from Der p 1-pulsed DC of allergic patients was inhibited by anti-TARC (CCL17) and anti-MDC (CCL22) neutralizing Abs. By using anti-IP10 (CXCL10) blocking Abs, supernatants of Der p 1-pulsed DC from healthy donors were shown to be involved in the recruitment of Th1 cells. These results suggest that in allergic patients exposed to house dust mites, DC may favour the exacerbation of the Th2 response via the increase in type 2 chemokine production.     

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression is increased in asthmatic airways and correlates with expression of Th2-attracting chemokines and disease severity

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is said to increase expression of chemokines attracting Th2 T cells. We hypothesized that asthma is characterized by elevated bronchial mucosal expression of TSLP and Th2-attracting, but not Th1-attracting, chemokines as compared with controls, with selective accumulation of cells bearing receptors for these chemokines. We used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to examine the expression and cellular provenance of TSLP, Th2-attracting (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CCL17, macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC)/CCL22, I-309/CCL1) and Th1-attracting (IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10)/CXCL10, IFN-inducible T cell alpha-chemoattractant (I-TAC)/CXCL11) chemokines and expression of their receptors CCR4, CCR8, and CXCR3 in bronchial biopsies from 20 asthmatics and 15 normal controls. The numbers of cells within the bronchial epithelium and submucosa expressing mRNA for TSLP, TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and IP-10/CXCL10, but not I-TAC/CXCL11 and I-309/CCL1, were significantly increased in asthmatics as compared with controls (p 相似文献   

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonists modulate Th1 and Th2 chemokine secretion in normal thyrocytes and Graves' disease

Until now, no data are present about the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α activation on the prototype Th1 [chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand (CXCL)10] (CXCL10) and Th2 [chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2] (CCL2) chemokines secretion in thyroid cells.The role of PPARα and PPARγ activation on CXCL10 and CCL2 secretion was tested in Graves' disease (GD) and control primary thyrocytes stimulated with interferon (IFN)γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α.IFNγ stimulated both CXCL10 and CCL2 secretion in primary GD and control thyrocytes. TNFα alone stimulated CCL2 secretion, while had no effect on CXCL10. The combination of IFNγ and TNFα had a synergistic effect both on CXCL10 and CCL2 chemokines in GD thyrocytes at levels comparable to those of controls. PPARα activators inhibited the secretion of both chemokines (stimulated with IFNγ and TNFα) at a level higher (for CXCL10, about 60–72%) than PPARγ agonists (about 25–35%), which were confirmed to inhibit CXCL10, but not CCL2.Our data show that CCL2 is modulated by IFNγ and TNFα in GD and normal thyrocytes. Furthermore we first show that PPARα activators inhibit the secretion of CXCL10 and CCL2 in thyrocytes, suggesting that PPARα may be involved in the modulation of the immune response in the thyroid.     

Expression and cellular provenance of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and chemokines in patients with severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with Th2 and Th1 differentiated T cells. The cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) promotes differentiation of Th2 T cells and secretion of chemokines which preferentially attract them. We hypothesized that there is distinct airways expression of TSLP and chemokines which preferentially attract Th1- and Th2-type T cells, and influx of T cells bearing their receptors in asthma and COPD. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA were used to examine the expression and cellular provenance of TSLP, Th2-attracting (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, I-309/CCL1), and Th1-attracting (IP-10/CXCL10, I-TAC/CXCL11) chemokines in the bronchial mucosa and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of subjects with moderate/severe asthma, COPD, and controls. Cells expressing mRNA encoding TSLP, TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, and IP-10/CXCL10, but not I-TAC/CXCL11 and I-309/CCL1, were significantly increased in severe asthma and COPD as compared with non-smoker controls (p < 0.02). This pattern was reflected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein concentrations. Expression of the same chemokines was also increased in ex- and current smokers. The cellular sources of TSLP and chemokines were strikingly similar in severe asthma and COPD. The numbers of total bronchial mucosal T cells expressing the chemokine receptors CCR4, CCR8, and CXCR3 did not significantly differ in asthma, COPD, and controls. Both asthma and COPD are associated with elevated bronchial mucosal expression of TSLP and the same Th1- and Th2-attracting chemokines. Increased expression of these chemokines is not, however, associated with selective accumulation of T cells bearing their receptors.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide biases Langerhans cells toward Th2-type immunity

Langerhans cells (LC) are epidermal dendritic cells capable, in several experimental systems, of Ag-presentation for stimulation of cell-mediated immunity. LC have been considered to play a key role in initiation of cutaneous immune responses. Additionally, administration of donor T cells to bone marrow chimeric mice with persistent host LC, but not mice whose LC have been replaced by donor cells, exhibit marked skin graft-vs-host disease, demonstrating that LC can trigger graft-vs-host disease. However, experiments with transgenic mice in which regulatory elements from human langerin were used to drive expression of diphtheria toxin, resulting in absence of LC, suggest that LC may serve to down-regulate cutaneous immunity. LC are associated with nerves containing the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and CGRP inhibits LC Ag-presentation in several models including presentation to a Th1 clone. We now report that CGRP enhances LC function for stimulation of Th2 responses. CGRP exposure enhanced LC Ag presentation to a Th2 clone. Upon presentation of chicken OVA by LC to T cells from DO11.10 chicken OVA TCR transgenic mice, pretreatment with CGRP resulted in increased IL-4 production and decreased IFN-gamma production. CGRP also inhibited stimulated production of the Th1 chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 but induced production of the Th2 chemokines CCL17 and CCL22 by a dendritic cell line and by freshly obtained LC. Changes in production of these chemokines correlated with the effect of CGRP on mRNA levels for these factors. Exposure of LC to nerve-derived CGRP in situ may polarize them toward favoring Th2-type immunity.     

CXC chemokines and their receptors: a case for a significant biological role in cutaneous wound healing

Wound healing requires a complex series of reactions and interactions among cells and their mediators, resulting in an overlapping series of events including coagulation, inflammation, epithelialization, formation of granulation tissue, matrix and scar formation. Cytokines and chemokines promote inflammation, angiogenesis, facilitate the passage of leukocytes from circulation into the tissue, and contribute to the regulation of epithelialization. They integrate inflammatory events and reparative processes that are important for modulating wound healing. Thus both cytokines and chemokines are important targets for therapeutic intervention. The chemokine-mediated regulation of angiogenesis is highly sophisticated, fine tuned, and involves pro-angiogenic chemokines, including CXCL1-3, 5-8 and their receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2. CXCL1 and CXCR2 are expressed in normal human epidermis and are further induced during the wound healing process of human burn wounds, especially during the inflammatory, epithelialization and angiogenic processes. Human skin explant studies also show CXCR2 is expressed in wounded keratinocytes and Th/1/Th2 cytokine modulation of CXCR2 expression correlates with proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. Murine excision wound healing, chemical burn wounds and skin organ culture systems are valuable models for examining the role of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in wound healing.