Background:
Interferon-gamma-inducible 10 kD protein (IP-10), is a CXC chemokine with chemoattractant properties for CD4-positive T cells and inhibits early normal and leukemic hemopoietic progenitor proliferation. IP-10 is produced by a wide variety of cell types ranging from neutrophils and monocytes to hepatocytes, endothelial cells and keratinocytes. The cytokine is reported to be involved in a scala of inflammatory pathologies such as HIV encephalitis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, chronic hepatitis and acute anterior uveitis. Various observations strongly suggest a role for the CXC chemokines IL-8 and IP-10 in the regulation of angiogenic activity in cancer and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.