Chemotactic factor that attracts lymphocytes and, slightly, neutrophils, but not monocytes. Inhibits proliferation of myeloid progenitors in colony formation assays. May be involved in formation and function of the mucosal lymphoid tissues by attracting lymphocytes and dendritic cells towards epithelial cells. C-terminal processed forms have been shown to be equally chemotactically active for leukocytes. Possesses antibacterial activity E.coli ATCC 25922 and S.aureus ATCC 29213.
Human macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha (MIP-3alpha; CCL20) is a CC-type chemokine that binds to and activates CC chemokine receptor-6 (CCR6). Although MIP-3alpha does not share the binding site of CCR6 with any other chemokine, human beta-defensin-1 and -2, small cationic antimicrobial peptides, have also been found to bind to and activate CCR6. Conversely, we have found that MIP-3alpha possesses antibacterial activity of greater potency than human beta-defensin-1 and -2 against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, while having no activity against the fungus Candida albicans. There is no clear sequence similarity between beta-defensins and the chemokine MIP-3alpha, beyond an abundance of cationic residues and the presence of disulfide bonds. Nonetheless, there are structural similarities between these three proteins that allow their overlap of chemotactic and antimicrobial activities. In this report, we describe the x-ray crystal structure of human MIP-3alpha refined to a resolution of 1.7 A and compare it with the crystal structures of human beta-defensin-1 and -2. Molecules of MIP-3alpha and the beta-defensins seem to share few structural motifs that are likely associated with their common biological activities.
The function of a family of chemotactic pro-inflammatory activation-inducible cytokines acting primarily upon hemopoietic cells in immunoregulatory processes; all chemokines possess a number of conserved cysteine residues involved in intramolecular disulfide bond formation.
J. Biol. Chem. 272, 5846-5853 (1997)[PubMed:9038201]
Partial overlapping cDNA sequences likely to encode a novel human CC chemokine were identified from the GenBank Expressed Sequence Tag data base. Using these sequences, we isolated full-length cDNA encoding a protein of 96 amino acid residues with 20-28% identity to other CC chemokines. By Northern blot, this chemokine was mainly expressed in liver among various tissues and strongly induced in several human cell lines by phorbol myristate acetate. We thus designated this chemokine as LARC from Liver and Activation-Regulated Chemokine. We mapped the LARC gene close to the chromosomal marker D2S159 at chromosome 2q33-q37 by somatic cell and radiation hybrid mappings and isolated two yeast artificial chromosome clones containing the LARC gene from this region. To prepare LARC, we subcloned the cDNA into a baculovirus vector and expressed it in insect cells. The secreted protein started at Ala-27 and was significantly chemotactic for lymphocytes. At a concentration of 1 microg/ml, it also showed a weak chemotactic activity for granulocytes. Unlike other CC chemokines, however, LARC was not chemotactic for monocytic THP-1 cells or blood monocytes. LARC tagged with secreted alkaline phosphatase-(His)6 bound specifically to lymphocytes, the binding being competed only by LARC and not by other CC or CXC chemokines. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of receptors for LARC on lymphocytes with a Kd of 0.4 nM and 2100 sites/cell. Collectively, LARC is a novel CC chemokine, which may represent a new group of CC chemokines localized on chromosome 2.
A response by a motile cell to a soluble chemical that involves an increase or decrease in speed (positive or negative orthokinesis) or of frequency of movement or a change in the frequency or magnitude of turning behavior (klinokinesis).
The directed movement of a motile cell or organism, or the directed growth of a cell guided by a specific chemical concentration gradient. Movement may be towards a higher concentration (positive chemotaxis) or towards a lower concentration (negative chemotaxis).
The immediate defensive reaction (by vertebrate tissue) to infection or injury caused by chemical or physical agents. The process is characterized by local vasodilation, extravasation of plasma into intercellular spaces and accumulation of white blood cells and macrophages.
The cellular process in which a signal is conveyed to trigger a change in the activity or state of a cell. Signal transduction begins with reception of a signal (e.g. a ligand binding to a receptor or receptor activation by a stimulus such as light), or for signal transduction in the absence of ligand, signal-withdrawal or the activity of a constitutively active receptor. Signal transduction ends with regulation of a downstream cellular process, e.g. regulation of transcription or regulation of a metabolic process. Signal transduction covers signaling from receptors located on the surface of the cell and signaling via molecules located within the cell. For signaling between cells, signal transduction is restricted to events at and within the receiving cell.
J. Biol. Chem. 272, 5846-5853 (1997)[PubMed:9038201]
Partial overlapping cDNA sequences likely to encode a novel human CC chemokine were identified from the GenBank Expressed Sequence Tag data base. Using these sequences, we isolated full-length cDNA encoding a protein of 96 amino acid residues with 20-28% identity to other CC chemokines. By Northern blot, this chemokine was mainly expressed in liver among various tissues and strongly induced in several human cell lines by phorbol myristate acetate. We thus designated this chemokine as LARC from Liver and Activation-Regulated Chemokine. We mapped the LARC gene close to the chromosomal marker D2S159 at chromosome 2q33-q37 by somatic cell and radiation hybrid mappings and isolated two yeast artificial chromosome clones containing the LARC gene from this region. To prepare LARC, we subcloned the cDNA into a baculovirus vector and expressed it in insect cells. The secreted protein started at Ala-27 and was significantly chemotactic for lymphocytes. At a concentration of 1 microg/ml, it also showed a weak chemotactic activity for granulocytes. Unlike other CC chemokines, however, LARC was not chemotactic for monocytic THP-1 cells or blood monocytes. LARC tagged with secreted alkaline phosphatase-(His)6 bound specifically to lymphocytes, the binding being competed only by LARC and not by other CC or CXC chemokines. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of receptors for LARC on lymphocytes with a Kd of 0.4 nM and 2100 sites/cell. Collectively, LARC is a novel CC chemokine, which may represent a new group of CC chemokines localized on chromosome 2.
Protein involved in the movement of a cell, or organism, along a concentration gradient of a chemotactic agent, such as a protein which causes, mediates or responds to chemotaxis. Chemotactic molecules such as sugars, peptides, cell metabolites, cell-wall or membrane lipids bind to cell surface receptors and trigger activation of intracellular signaling pathways, as well as remodeling of the cytoskeleton through the activation or inhibition of various actin-binding proteins.
Protein involved in the localized protective response to tissue damage, microbial infection, or the presence of foreign matter. It is characterized by swelling, redness, heat and pain and involves a complex series of events including vascular changes and accumulation of blood cells, such as neutrophil leucocytes and mononuclear phagocytes, at the site of injury.
Protein which has deleterious effects on any type of microbe. Microbe is a general term for microscopic unicellular organisms, such as bacteria, archaea, fungi and protista. While the term microbe is often also used for viruses, we do not apply the keyword antimicrobial to antiviral proteins.
Small secreted proteins from higher eukaryotes which affect the growth, division and functions of other cells, e.g. interleukins, lymphokines, TNF and interferons. Generally, growth factors are not classified as cytokines, though TGF is an exception. Chemokines are a subset of cytokines. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissues or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than endocrine manner.
A reference proteome is a set of protein sequences derived from a complete proteome which constitutes a defined standard for a particular user community. Reference proteomes are manually defined according to a number of criteria. They cover the proteomes of well- studied model organisms and other proteomes of interest for biomedical and biotechnological research. Reference proteomes have been selected to provide broad coverage of the tree of life, and constitute a representative cross-section of the taxonomic diversity to be found within UniProtKB.