# The role of chemokines and their receptors in cardiovascular diseases **Authors:** Sashwath Srikanth, Louis DeVito, Nicholas J. Constantinesco, Radha Gopal PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1758588 · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026-02-04 ## TL;DR This review explores how chemokines and their receptors contribute to cardiovascular diseases and highlights gaps in therapeutic strategies. ## Contribution The paper provides a comprehensive summary of recent findings on chemokine roles in CVD and evaluates current therapeutic approaches. ## Key findings - Chemokines play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis and heart failure. - Most therapeutic attempts targeting chemokines have not been successful in clinical settings. - Current clinical trials and potential therapeutics targeting chemokine receptors are being evaluated. ## Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasingly recognized as an outcome of multiple inflammatory processes. Despite a large recent research focus, the majority of attempts to therapeutically target chemokines, have not been successful. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms involving chemokines contributing to CVD is warranted to identify the missing gaps in the field. This review summarizes the latest developments on the role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. We also aim to provide insight into the current clinical trials and potential therapeutics targeting chemokines and their receptors. ## Linked entities - **Diseases:** atherosclerosis (MONDO:0005311), heart failure (MONDO:0005252), coronary artery disease (MONDO:0005010), myocarditis (MONDO:0004496), cardiomyopathy (MONDO:0004994) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** Apoe (apolipoprotein E) [NCBI Gene 11816] {aka Apo-E}, CXCR4 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7852] {aka CD184, D2S201E, FB22, HM89, HSY3RR, LCR1}, CCL17 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 17) [NCBI Gene 6361] {aka A-152E5.3, ABCD-2, SCYA17, TARC}, HNP1 (Hypertensive nephropathy) [NCBI Gene 574045], CCL4 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 4) [NCBI Gene 6351] {aka ACT2, AT744.1, G-26, HC21, LAG-1, LAG1}, CCL7 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 7) [NCBI Gene 6354] {aka FIC, MARC, MCP-3, MCP3, NC28, SCYA6}, Cx3cl1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 20312] {aka ABCD-3, CX3C, Cxc3, D8Bwg0439e, FK, Scyd1}, XCL1 (X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 6375] {aka ATAC, LPTN, LTN, SCM-1, SCM-1a, SCM1}, CX3CR1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 1524] {aka CCRL1, CMKBRL1, CMKDR1, GPR13, GPRV28, V28}, CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) [NCBI Gene 6387] {aka IRH, PBSF, SCYB12, SDF1, TLSF, TPAR1}, CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) [NCBI Gene 3627] {aka C7, IFI10, INP10, IP-10, SCYB10, crg-2}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) [NCBI Gene 6366] {aka 6Ckine, CKb9, ECL, SCYA21, SLC, TCA4}, CCR5 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 5) [NCBI Gene 1234] {aka CC-CKR-5, CCCKR5, CCR-5, CD195, CKR-5, CKR5}, TIMP1 (TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1) [NCBI Gene 7076] {aka CLGI, EPA, EPO, HCI, TIMP, TIMP-1}, CCR2 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 729230] {aka CC-CKR-2, CCR-2, CCR2A, CCR2B, CD192, CKR2}, CCR4 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 1233] {aka CC-CKR-4, CD194, CKR4, CMKBR4, ChemR13, HGCN:14099}, Cxcl1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 14825] {aka Fsp, Gro1, KC, Mgsa, N51, Scyb1}, CX3CL1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 6376] {aka ABCD-3, C3Xkine, CXC3, CXC3C, NTN, NTT}, Cxcl2 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 20310] {aka CINC-2a, GROb, Gro2, MIP-2, MIP-2a, Mgsa-b}, Ccr2 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 12772] {aka Cc-ckr-2, Ccr2a, Ccr2b, Ckr2, Ckr2a, Ckr2b}, ELN (elastin) [NCBI Gene 2006] {aka ADCL1, SVAS, WBS, WS}, CXCL5 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5) [NCBI Gene 6374] {aka ENA-78, SCYB5}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, APOE (apolipoprotein E) [NCBI Gene 348] {aka AD2, APO-E, ApoE4, LDLCQ5, LPG}, CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576] {aka GCP-1, GCP1, IL8, LECT, LUCT, LYNAP}, Ccr1 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 12768] {aka Cmkbr1, Mip-1a-R}, CXCL9 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9) [NCBI Gene 4283] {aka CMK, Humig, MIG, SCYB9, crg-10}, Cx3cr1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 13051] {aka mCX3CR1}, CCL3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3) [NCBI Gene 6348] {aka G0S19-1, LD78, LD78ALPHA, MIP-1-alpha, MIP1A, SCI}, CCL5 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) [NCBI Gene 6352] {aka D17S136E, RANTES, SCYA5, SIS-delta, SISd, TCP228}, Cxcr2 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 12765] {aka CD128, CDw128, Cmkar2, Gpcr16, IL-8Rh, IL-8rb}, CCL11 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 11) [NCBI Gene 6356] {aka SCYA11}, CCL8 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 6355] {aka HC14, MCP-2, MCP2, SCYA10, SCYA8}, PF4 (platelet factor 4) [NCBI Gene 5196] {aka CXCL4, PF-4, SCYB4}, CCL19 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 19) [NCBI Gene 6363] {aka CKb11, ELC, MIP-3b, MIP3B, SCYA19}, CCR7 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 7) [NCBI Gene 1236] {aka BLR2, CC-CKR-7, CCR-7, CD197, CDw197, CMKBR7}, Ccl4 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 4) [NCBI Gene 20303] {aka AT744.1, Act-2, MIP-1B, Mip1b, Scya4}, RIGI (RNA sensor RIG-I) [NCBI Gene 23586] {aka DDX58, RIG-I, RIG1, RLR-1, SGMRT2}, CXCL1 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1) [NCBI Gene 2919] {aka FSP, GRO1, GROa, MGSA, MGSA-a, NAP-3}, Ccr5 (C-C motif chemokine receptor 5) [NCBI Gene 12774] {aka AM4-7, CD195, Cmkbr5}, Ccl5 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) [NCBI Gene 20304] {aka MuRantes, RANTES, SISd, Scya5, TCP228}, Ccl2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 20296] {aka HC11, JE, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1, SMC-CF}, Ccl3 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 3) [NCBI Gene 20302] {aka G0S19-1, LD78alpha, MIP-1alpha, MIP1-(a), MIP1-alpha, Mip1a}, CXCR2 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 3579] {aka CD182, CDw128b, CMKAR2, IL8R2, IL8RA, IL8RB}, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 6347] {aka GDCF-2, HC11, HSMCR30, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1}, CCL22 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 22) [NCBI Gene 6367] {aka A-152E5.1, ABCD-1, DC/B-CK, MDC, SCYA22, STCP-1} - **Diseases:** infarct (MESH:D007238), HF (MESH:D006333), ARVD (MESH:D019571), Bacterial (MESH:D001424), CAD (MESH:D003324), cardiac dysfunction (MESH:D006331), cardiac remodeling (MESH:D020257), ventricular tachycardia (MESH:D017180), necrosis (MESH:D009336), atherosclerotic plaque (MESH:D058226), VF (MESH:D014693), myasthenia gravis (MESH:D009157), endothelial (MESH:D005642), rheumatoid arthritis (MESH:D001172), microvascular dysfunction (MESH:D017566), reperfusion injury (MESH:D015427), thrombosis (MESH:D013927), iron channel dysfunction (MESH:D019189), Viral myocarditis (MESH:D014777), Atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), eosinophilic granulomatosis (MESH:D017681), polyangiitis (MESH:D014890), death (MESH:D003643), post-MI (MESH:D000094025), AF (MESH:D001281), sarcoidosis (MESH:D012507), myocardial infarction (MESH:D009203), CVD (MESH:D002318), infection (MESH:D007239), dilated cardiomyopathy (MESH:D002311), ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (MESH:D000072657), occlusion of the blood vessel (MESH:D009383), Autoimmune disorders (MESH:D001327), arrhythmia (MESH:D001145), stroke (MESH:D020521), EAM (MESH:D009205), cardiomyopathies (MESH:D009202), inflammatory myopathies (MESH:D009220), fatigue (MESH:D005221), autoinflammatory diseases (MESH:D056660), ischemia (MESH:D007511), metabolic-microvascular dysfunction (MESH:D008659), systemic sclerosis (MESH:D012595), post-injury (MESH:D004834), systemic lupus erythematosus (MESH:D008180), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), chronic inflammation (MESH:D007249), muscle contractions (MESH:C536214), influenza infection (MESH:D007251), granulomatosis (MESH:D015267), necrotic myocardium (MESH:D017682), endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), diabetes mellitus (MESH:D003920), dyspnea (MESH:D004417), chronic kidney disease (MESH:D051436) - **Chemicals:** MLN1202 (MESH:C558499), Lipids (MESH:D008055), calcium (MESH:D002118), JVS-100 (-), disulfide (MESH:D004220), POL6326 (MESH:C000624271), Bindarit (MESH:C079489), CAN (MESH:C004653), cholesteryl esters (MESH:D002788), free fatty acids (MESH:D005230), Maraviroc (MESH:D000077592), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), esters (MESH:D004952) - **Species:** Human parvovirus B19 (no rank) [taxon 10798], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (no rank) [taxon 2697049], Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (no rank) [taxon 11676], Coxsackievirus B3 (no rank) [taxon 12072], Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (no rank) [taxon 694009], hepatitis C virus [taxon 11103], Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (no rank) [taxon 1335626], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Chlamydia pneumoniae (species) [taxon 83558], Enterovirus (genus) [taxon 12059] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12913085/full.md ## Figures 1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12913085/full.md ## References 138 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12913085/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12913085