CXCL10 (C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10), also known as Interferon Gamma-Induced Protein 10 (IP-10) or small-inducible cytokine A10, is a chemokine that plays crucial roles in immune cell recruitment, inflammation, and antiviral responses. CXCL10 signals through CXCR3, a receptor expressed on T cells, NK cells, and other immune cells. In the central nervous system, CXCL10 is a key mediator of neuroinflammation and has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases[1][2].
| Symbol | CXCL10 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 3627 |
| Chromosome | 4q21 |
| Protein Class | CXC Chemokine |
| Molecular Weight | ~10 kDa |
CXCL10 has essential functions in immune surveillance and inflammation:
CXCL10 signals through CXCR3:
CXCL10/CXCR3 activates multiple intracellular cascades:
CXCL10 is an inducible chemokine:
| Cell Type | Expression Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astrocytes | High | Strongly induced by IFN-γ |
| Microglia | High | Inflammatory activation |
| Neurons | Moderate | Constitutive, inducible |
| Endothelial cells | High | IFN-γ induced |
| Fibroblasts | Moderate | Inflammatory signals |
The CXCL10/CXCR3 axis is being explored for therapy:
Liu et al. CXCL10 in neuroinflammation (2011). 2011. ↩︎
Dubois et al. [CXCL10 in CNS disease (1999)](https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI). 1999. ↩︎
Ransohoff et al. Chemokines in neuroinflammation (2003). 2003. ↩︎
Sorensen et al. CXCL10 in multiple sclerosis (2001). 2001. ↩︎
Baranzini et al. CXCL10 in Parkinson's disease (2010). 2010. ↩︎