Chemokines are a type of small signaling protein that play a crucial role in the immune system. They help guide the movement of immune cells to sites of infection or inflammation by creating a chemical gradient. This process is essential for the body’s defense against pathogens and for tissue repair. There are several families of chemokines, each with specific functions and receptors. They are classified based on their structure and the arrangement of cysteine residues in their amino acid sequence. Chemokines interact with chemokine receptors on the surface of immune cells, facilitating communication and coordination during immune responses.