C-C Motif Chemokine 18 Protein (CCL18) Human Active Protein

This antimicrobial gene is one of several Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes clustered on the q arm of chromosome 17. Cytokines are a family of secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. The CC cytokines are proteins characterized by two adjacent cysteines. The cytokine encoded by this gene displays chemotactic activity for naive T cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and nonactivated lymphocytes, but not for monocytes or granulocytes. This chemokine attracts naive T lymphocytes toward dendritic cells and activated macrophages in lymph nodes. It may play a role in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity responses. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2014]

CCL18: Chemotactic factor that attracts lymphocytes but not monocytes or granulocytes. May be involved in B-cell migration into B-cell follicles in lymph nodes. Attracts naive T-lymphocytes toward dendritic cells and activated macrophages in lymph nodes, has chemotactic activity for naive T-cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and thus may play a role in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity responses. Belongs to the intercrine beta (chemokine CC) family.

Protein type: Chemokine; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis; Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 17q12

Cellular Component: extracellular space

Molecular Function: CCR chemokine receptor binding; chemokine activity; protein binding

Biological Process: cell communication; cell-cell signaling; chemotaxis; G-protein coupled receptor protein signaling pathway; immune response; inflammatory response; lymphocyte chemotaxis; monocyte chemotaxis; neutrophil chemotaxis; positive regulation of GTPase activity; response to biotic stimulus; signal transduction