Chemokinetic

Chemokinetic refers to the movement of cells or organisms in response to a chemical gradient. This movement can be either attractive or repulsive, depending on the nature of the chemical stimulus and the responding entity. Chemokinesis specifically describes the enhancement of random motility by a chemical substance, meaning the cell moves faster or more frequently, but not necessarily in a directed manner towards or away from the source of the chemical. This is distinct from chemotaxis, which is directed movement along a chemical gradient. Chemokinetic responses are crucial in various biological processes, including immune cell migration to sites of infection, wound healing, and the development of multicellular organisms. For instance, inflammatory mediators released at a wound site can increase the random movement of neutrophils, bringing them more efficiently into the affected area where they can then engage in chemotactic responses to further target the source of inflammation. The underlying molecular mechanisms often involve changes in cytoskeletal dynamics and cell adhesion.