Final answer:
Chemokines are a type of cytokine that attract specific subsets of leukocytes to sites of infection and inflammation through chemotaxis. They bind to specific receptors on immune cells, triggering cellular responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemokines are a type of cytokine that function to attract specific subsets of leukocytes to sites of infection, damaged tissue, and inflammation through a process called chemotaxis. They play a crucial role in immune responses by recruiting immune cells to the site of injury or infection. Chemokines are secreted into the intercellular space and bind to specific receptors on the surface of immune cells, triggering cellular responses.
The receptor structure of chemokines consists of transmembrane proteins that span the plasma membrane. These receptors perform signal transduction, converting the extracellular signal of the chemokine into an intercellular signal within the immune cell. The binding of chemokines to their receptors leads to cellular responses such as cell migration, adhesion, and activation.