Final answer:
Chemokines are signaling molecules that attract leukocytes to affected sites via chemotaxis. Interleukins, a subgroup of cytokines, coordinate immune responses and can influence a wide range of cells, regulating various bodily functions including immunity and inflammation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that play a crucial role in recruiting specific subsets of leukocytes to sites of infection, damaged tissue, and areas experiencing inflammation. These signaling molecules function by guiding leukocytes to the affected regions through chemotaxis, which is a directed cell movement towards higher concentrations of a particular chemical signal.
Interleukins are a type of cytokines primarily produced by immune system cells. These signaling molecules are essential for coordinating the body's defense against invading pathogens. They do this through a variety of mechanisms, including the activation of leukocytes and the regulation of immune responses. Interleukins were once thought to be exclusive to leukocyte communication, but research has shown they can also affect a wide range of non-immune cells, influencing various physiological processes such as cell differentiation, immunity, and inflammation.
For example, IL-10 is a significant interleukin that acts mainly to inhibit activated immune cells within the immune system, controlling innate immune reactions and cell-mediated immunity. IL-10 exemplifies the complex regulatory roles interleukins play in balancing the body's response to pathogens while preventing excessive inflammation that could lead to tissue damage.