Ccl6

Chemokines, a subgroup of cytokines, are small (size between 8 and 10 kDa), chemotactically active proteins (signal proteins). They are common in all vertebrates, some virus types and bacteria. In humans, about 50 chemokines are currently known. A strongly conserved structural feature of all chemokines is a fixed group of cysteine residues that is stabilized by 1 or 2 disulfide bridges. This key structural position in the molecule is responsible for its fixed 3-dimensional structure.

In the CC chemokines, the cysteines follow each other directly (see figure), in the CXC chemokines they are separated (CC = acronym for cysteine-cysteine) by 1, in the CXXXC chemokines by 3 other amino acids. Chemokines are produced and secreted by a variety of immune cells, but also by parenchymatous cells (e.g. hepatocytes, myocytes). They transmit their signals by binding to chemokine receptors via G-proteins. Some chemokines have a pro-inflammatory effect, others have a regulatory effect on the development and homeostasis of tissues.

CCL6 is a chemokine that has so far only been detected in mice and rats. CCL6 is induced in inflammatory reactions by interferon-gamma, interleukin-1, interleukin-13 and tumor necrosis factors and is produced and secreted by neutrophilic granulocytes and macrophages. CCL6 is overexpressed in bone marrow cultures of mice after stimulation with the growth factor GM-CSF . CCL6 is also expressed in the lung parenchyma of mice after activation by interleukin-13.

1. Dolgachev V et al (2007) Stem cell factor-mediated activation pathways promote murine eosinophil CCL6 production and survival. J Leukoc Biol 81:1111-1119.
2. Jiang N et al (2012) Molecular cloning and functional characterization of a mouse ccl6 analog gene in the rat. Genet Mol Res 11:3889-3898.
3. Ma B et al (2004) The C10/CCL6 chemokines and CCR1 play critical roles in the pathogenesis of IL-13-induced inflammation and remodeling. J Immunol 172:1872-1881.