Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8), also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein 2 (MCP2), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCL8 gene. [3] [4]
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CCL8 is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. The CCL8 protein is produced as a precursor containing 109 amino acids, which is cleaved to produce mature CCL8 containing 75 amino acids. The gene for CCL8 is encoded by 3 exons and is located within a large cluster of CC chemokines on chromosome 17q11.2 in humans. [4] [5] MCP-2 is chemotactic for and activates many different immune cells, including mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, (that are implicated in allergic responses), and monocytes, T cells, and NK cells that are involved in the inflammatory response. [6] [7] CCL8 elicits its effects by binding to several different cell surface receptors called chemokine receptors. These receptors include CCR1, CCR2B, CCR3 and CCR5. [7] [8]
CCL8 is a CC chemokine that utilizes multiple cellular receptors to attract and activate human leukocytes. CCL8 is a potent inhibitor of HIV1 by virtue of its high-affinity binding to the receptor CCR5, one of the major co-receptors for HIV1. [9] In addition, CCL8 attributes to the growth of metastasis in breast cancer cells. The manipulation of this chemokine activity influences the histology of tumors promoting steps of metastatic processes. [10] CCL8 is also involved in attracting macrophages to the decidua in labor. [11]
