Chemokines and their receptors
Chemokines
Chemokines are a family of small cytokines. They are classified according to shared
structural characteristics such as small size (they are all approximately 8-10 kDa insize), and the presence of four cysteine residues in conserved locations that are key
to forming their 3-dimensional shape. The name is derived from their ability to induce
directed chemotaxis in nearby responsive cells; they are chemoattractant cytokines.
Some chemokines are considered proinflammatory and can be induced during an
immune response to promote cells of the immune system to a site of infection, whileothers are considered homeostatic and are involved in controlling the migration ofcells during normal processes of tissue maintenance or development. Chemokines
are found in all vertebrates, some viruses and some bacteria, but none have been
described for other invertebrates. These proteins exert their biological effects byinteracting with G protein-linked transmembrane receptors called chemokine
receptors, that are selectively found on the surfaces of their target cells.

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Main receptors

Chemokine

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Main receptors

Chemokine

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Main receptors

CXCL1

GRO-α /MGSAα(MIP2α/KC)

Inducible neutrophil chemoattractant factor. Detected
in mammary fibroblasts, mammary epithelial cells,
endothelial cells, activated monocytes, macrophages
and neutrophils.

ab9905ab17678

CXCR2 (IL8RB)

CCL3L1LD78β gene
duplication

Closely related to CCL3. Its receptor CCR5 is a co-receptor
for HIV; binding of CCL3L1 to CCR5 inhibits HIV entry, andCCL3L1 has been shown to exhibit potent activity in HIV
suppression assays.

ab36129

CCR5
Chemokine
binding
protein 2

XCL1

Lymphotactin

ab51795
ab9955

XCR1

CXCL2

GRO-β /MGSAβ(MIP2β/KC)

Promotes neutrophil and basophil chemotaxis anddegranulation.

ab9950ab25903

CXCR2 (IL8RB)

CCL4

LAG-1 gene
duplication,
MIP-1βChemoattractant and adhesive effects on lymphocytes,
preferentially attracting CD4+ T cells.

ab9675ab10384

CCR1
CCR5

Expression is restricted to activated CD8+ T cells andother class I MHC restricted T cells (absent in CD4+ T cells).
Produced by lymphocytes and acts on both lymphocytes
and NK cells, indicating a possible messenger role in T cellchemoattraction. No activity is exerted on monocytesor neutrophils. It has recently been shown that XCL1 is a
key regulator of lymphocyte motility and adhesion during
acute allograft rejection.

CXCL3GROγ / MGSAγ(MIP2γ/KC)

Induces chemotactic activity in neutrophils. May play arole in inflammation and affects endothelial cells in an
autocrine fashion.

ab9843CXCR2 (IL8RB)

CCL5

RANTES

ab9679ab11455

SCM-1bPredominantly expressed in activated T cells. Also found at
low levels in unstimulated cells. Induces chemotaxis of cells
expressing the chemokine receptor XCR1.

PF-4

Released from alpha granules of activated platelets,
binds to heparin. Neutralizes heparin like moleculeson the endothelial surface of blood vessels, thereby
inhibiting local antithrombin III activity and promoting
coagulation. Strong chemoattractant for neutrophils
and fibroblasts. Probably has a role in inflammation andwound repair.

ab9561
ab49735

CXCR3 beta
isoform(CD183b)

CCR1
CCR3
CCR4
CCR5
DARC

XCL2

CXCL4

Chemoattractant for monocytes, memory T helper cells
and eosinophils. It causes the release of histamine frombasophils and activates eosinophils. One of the major HIV
suppressive factors produced by CD8+ T cells.

CCL6(C-10 / MRP-2)

ab10351
ab33835

CCR1
CCR2
CCR3

Expressed by fibroblasts. Induced by bacterial
lipopolysaccharides. Chemoattractant for neutrophils andinvolved in their activation. Produced concomitantly withCXCL8 in response to stimulation with IL1 or TNF alpha.

ab9802ab17694

Chemoattractant only expressed in rodents. In mice,expressed in cells from neutrophil and macrophagelineages, and can be induced under conditions suitable
for myeloid cell differentiation. CCL6 is highly expressedin bone marrow cultures that have been stimulated withthe cytokine GM-CSF and can be induced in the mouselung by IL13. In activated T cell lines, expression of CCL6 isgreatly reduced.
Secreted chemokine which attracts macrophages during
inflammation and metastasis. The protein is an in vivo
substrate of matrix metalloproteinase 2, an enzyme which
degrades components of the extracellular matrix.

ab9681
ab12732

Chemoattractant for monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils
and eosinophils. Important to inflammatory host responses
and is found in the highest concentration in the small
intestine and peripheral blood cells.

ab10392
ab39627

Mediates hepatobiliary excretion of numerous organic
anions and may function as a cellular cisplatin transporter,with highest expression in liver. CCL9/10 is a member of the
MRP family of multidrug resistance related proteins, and its
overexpression has been observed in a subset of cisplatin
resistant cell lines. Defects in CCL9/10 are the cause of
Dubin-Johnson syndrome.

ab3373

ENA-78

Neutrophil recruitment to inflammatory sites.

ab9923CXCR2 (IL8RB)
CXCR1 (IL8RA)

CXCL7

NAP-2

Potent chemoattractant and activator of neutrophils.
Stimulates various cellular processes including DNA
synthesis, mitosis, glycolysis, intracellular cAMP
accumulation, prostaglandin E2 secretion and synthesisof hyaluronic acid and sulfated glycosaminoglycan.
Also stimulates formation and secretion of plasminogenactivator by synovial cells.

ab9554ab17520CXCR2 (IL8RB)

Major mediator of inflammatory response, secreted byseveral cell types in response to inflammatory stimulus. A
chemoattractant and also a potent angiogenic factor.
Attracts neutrophils, basophils, and T-cells (but not
monocytes). Strongly suggested role in the regulationof angiogenic activity in cancer and in idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis. Also causes neutrophil recruitment to
inflammatory sites.

ab10769
ab14040
ab56320ab27369

Produced by stimulated monocytes, macrophages
and endothelial cells. Selectively chemoattracts Th1
lymphocytes and also exerts other activities including
inhibition of tumor growth, angiogenesis and inhibition ofcolony formation of hematopoietic progenitors. HumanCXCL9 is active on murine cells.

ab9720ab17703

Chemoattractant for CD4+ T cells and inhibits early normal
and leukemic heamopoietic progenitor proliferation.
Produced by a wide variety of cell types ranging fromneutrophils to hepatocytes, endothelial cells andkeratinocytes. Involved in a variety of inflammatory
pathologies such as HIV encephalitis, cutaneous T cell
lymphoma and chronic hepatitis. Strongly suggested in theregulation of angiogenic activity in cancer.

ab9938ab8099Chemoattractant for interleukin-activated T cells but
not unstimulated T cells, neutrophils or monocytes.
Induces calcium release in activated T cells. It may
play an important role in CNS diseases which involve
T cell recruitment and in skin immune responses.
Expressed at high levels in peripheral blood leukocytes,
pancreas and liver astrocytes and at moderate levelsin thymus, spleen and lung. Induced by IFN gamma
and IFN beta.

ab9955ab26946

A strong chemoattractant for lymphocytes. Binding to its
receptor inhibits HIV1 entry. During embryogenesis, CXCL12
directs migration of hematopoietic cells from fetal liver tobone marrow and the formation of large blood vessels.
In adulthood it plays an important role in angoigenesis byrecruiting endothelial progenitor cells. A very importantfactor in carcinogenesis and the neovascularisation linked
to tumor progression.

ab9797
ab18919

Strongly expressed in the follicles of the spleen, lymph
nodes, and Peyer’s patches. Preferentially promotes
the migration of B lymphocytes (compared to T cells
and macrophages), apparently by stimulating calcium
influx into, and chemotaxis of, cells expressing Burkitt’s
lymphoma receptor 1 (BLR1). It may therefore function in
the homing of B lymphocytes to follicles.

ab33178ab9975Constitutively expressed at the mRNA level in certain
normal tissues but absent from many established tumor
cell lines / cancers. A chemoattractant for monocytes
and can activate these cells in the presence of an
inflammatory mediator prostaglandin-E2. Also a potent
chemoattractant and activator of dendritic cells. It is
implicated in homing of these cells and can stimulate themigration of activated NK cells. Also inhibits angiogenesis,
possibly as a result of its ability to block endothelial
cell chemotaxis.

ab46010ab46008

Recruits neutrophils during lung inflammation. It isabundant in epithelial cells of the murine lung, and canalso be found in other mucosal and endocrine organs
and to a lesser extent in certain fetal tissues. No humanhomolog has been identified and a specific cell surface
receptor has not yet been found.

CXCL15protein(ab49907)

Acts as a scavenger receptor on macrophages, which
specifically binds to oxidized low density lipoprotein,suggesting that it may be involved in pathophysiologies
such as atherogenesis. Produced by dendritic cells foundin the T cell zones of lymphoid organs and by cells found in
the red pulp of the spleen, in response to the inflammatory
cytokines IFN gamma and TNF alpha. Expressed as acell surface bound molecule or a soluble chemokine.
Chemoattractant for several subsets of T cells and naturalkiller T cells.

ab27222ab27222CXCL10CXCL11CXCL12CXCL13

IL8

MIG

IP-10

I-TAC

SDF-1α/βBCA-1

Alpha chemokines (CXC)CXCL14

BRAK (breastand kidneyexpressedchemokine) /Bolekine

Beta chemokines (CC)CXCL15CXCL16

Lungkine

Small inducible
cytokine B6

Gamma chemokines (C subfamily) lack two of the four invariant cysteine residues
normally found in the CC and CXC chemokines and have an extended C-terminus.

Delta chemokines (CX3C)
Delta chemokines contain a unique CX3C cysteine motif (3 amino acids between theconserved cysteine residues) near the N-terminal.

Chemokine

Alternativenames

Role/expression

CCL1

1-309 (TCA-3),
Scya1

Glycoprotein secreted by activated T cells. Attracts
monocytes, NK cells, and immature B cells and dendritic
cells by interacting with a cell surface chemokine
receptor CCR8.

Conjugation

CCL2

FITC

MCP-1 /MCAF(JE)

Phycoerythrin
BiotinUnconjugatedwww.abcam.com/chemokines

Copyright © 2021 Abcam, All Rights Reserved. All information/detail is correct at time of going to print.
Image: Transmission electron micrograph of a mast cell. Courtesy of the Biomedical Imaging Unit, University of Southampton, UK

CCL3

MIP-1α / LD78α

CCL8

CCL9/10DARCCXCR3 beta
isoform(CD183b)

CXCR3 beta
isoform(CD183b)

CXCR3 beta
isoform(CD183b)ab8018ab25904

CCR3

CCL12

MCP-5

A strong chemoattractant for human monocytes andmurine peritoneal macrophages. Exhibits only a weak
response on mouse eosinophils at high concentrations andis not active on mouse neutrophils.

ab18938
ab9737

CCR2

Similar to CCL7. Powerful eosinophil chemoattractant.
Induces chemotaxis of monocytes and T lymphocytes.

ab9558ab17551

CCR1
CCR2
CCR3
CCR11

CCL14

CCL16

Expressed primarily in T cells, B cells, and monocytes
after antigen or mitogen stimulation. Adhesive effects
on lymphocytes. CCL3 can inhibit the proliferation ofhematopoietic stem cells.

ab9673ab62137

MCP-4

HCC-1

Produced as a precursor which is processed to generate amature active protein exhibiting 46% amino acid homology
to CCL3 and CCL4. Expressed in various tissues including
spleen, bone marrow, liver, muscle and gut.

ab14528
ab55752

CCR1

HCC-2 / LKN1 / MIP-1δ /MIP-5

Induces changes in intracellular calcium concentrationin monocytes. CCL15 is thought to act through the CCR1
receptor but also binds to CCR3.

ab14531ab17707

CCR1
CCR3

HCC-4 / LEC

Chemoattractant for lymphocytes and monocytes but not
for neutrophils. It also shows a potent myelosuppressive
activity and suppresses proliferation of myeloid progenitor
cells. Its expression is upregulated by IL10.

ab626
ab17439CCR1

TARC (ABCD-2)

Chemoattractant for T lymphocytes but not monocytes or
granulocytes. CCL17 binds to chemokine receptors CCR4
and CCR8. This chemokine plays important roles in T cell
development in the thymus as well as in trafficking andactivation of mature T cells.

ab9816ab30975

CCR4
DARC

CCL18

MIP-4 / DCCK1 / PARC /AMAC-1

A chemoattractant for lymphocytes but not monocytes
or granulocytes. Specifically, it attracts naive T cells, CD4+
and CD8+ T cells and thus may play a role in both humoral
and cell-mediated immunity. Some evidence suggeststhat CCL18 may also be involved in B cell migration into
lymph nodes. Expressed at high levels in lung, lymph nodes,
placenta, and bone marrow.

ab9849ab12749

unknown

Constitutively expressed in various lymphoid tissues.
The level of expression can be strongly up-regulated
by inflammatory signals or down-regulated by the antiinflammatory cytokine IL10. Attracts cultured human
lymphcytes, dendritic cells, human T and hematopoietic
progenitor cells.

ab9351
ab9831

MIP-3β / ELC /Exodus 3

Unknown
MIP-3α / LARC/
Exodus 1

Chemoattractant that attracts lymphocytes andneutrophils, but not monocytes. CCL20 inhibits proliferationof myeloid progenitors in colony formation assays. It may
be involved in formation and function of the mucosal
lymphoid tissues by attracting lymphocytes and dendritic
cells towards epithelial cells.

ab9349ab9829

CCR6

CCL21

6Ckine / SLC /Exodus 2

Research indicates that CCL21 influences lymphocyte
homing to secondary lymphoid organs, integrin-mediatedlymphocyte adhesion, and may act via the EBI1 ligand
chemokine (ELC) receptor, CCR7. Chemoattractant
for thymocytes and activated T cells. CCL21 is a known
receptor for small inducible cytokine A19 (another memberof the cytokine family).

ab10364
ab10350

CCR7

CCL22

MDC / STCP-1 /(ABCD-1)

Chemoattractant for natural killer cells, chronically
activated T lymphocytes, monocytes and dendritic cells. It
has no chemoattractant activity for eosinophils, neutrophilsor resting T lymphocytes. May play a role in the traffickingof activated T lymphocytes to inflammatory sites and otheraspects of their physiology.

ab53002ab10379

CCR4

CCL23

MPIF-1 / MIP-3 /CKβ-8Chemoattractant for monocytes, resting T-lymphocytes
and neutrophils. Inhibits proliferation of myeloid progenitor
cells and is highly expressed in adult lung, liver, skeletal
muscle and pancreas. There are moderate levels of CCL23
in fetal liver, adult bone marrow and placenta.

ab9929ab62138

CCR1

CCL24

MPIF-2 /Eotaxin-2

Like CCL11, activates and attracts eosinophils andbasophils. CCL24 mRNA is weakly expressed in activatedmonocytes and T lymphocytes. Inhibits colony formation inmyleloid progenitor cells.

ab10370ab62306

CCR3

ab2164ab2164CXCR6Main receptors

CCR2
CCR11
DARC

CCR1
CCR5

CCL25

TECK

Chemoattractant for dendritic cells, thymocytes andactivated macrophages, but is inactive on peripheral
blood lymphocytes and neutrophils.

CCL26

Eotaxin-3

Expressed by several tissues including heart, lung andovary and in endothelial cells that have been stimulatedwith the cytokine IL4. Chemoattractant for eosinophils
and basophils.

CCL27

CTAK / ILC(ESKine)Attracts skin-associated memory T-lymphocytes. CCL27
may play a role in mediating homing of lymphocytes tocutaneous sites.

CCL28

MEC

Chemoattractant for resting CD4 or CD8 T cells andeosinophils. It induces calcium mobilization in a dosedependent manner and may play a role in the physiology
of extracutaneous epithelial tissues, including diverse
mucosal organs.

Chemokine

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Main receptors

CX3CL1

Fractalkine(neurotactine)

Leukocyte chemoattractant expressed in various tissues
including brain, heart, lung, kidney, skeletal muscle andtestis. Up-regulated in endothelial cells and microglia by
inflammatory signals. It’s receptor, CX3CR1, a specific receptor
for CX3CL1, mediates both leukocyte migration and adhesion.

ab25088
ab17514CX3R1

Alpha chemokine receptors
Receptor

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

CXCR1

IL8RA

Expressed on neutrophils.

ab13018
ab38989
ab38991ab8042

CXCR2

IL8RB

Expressed on neutrophils.

ab14935
ab38998
ab39007ab8042CXCR3CD183bPredominantly expressed on T lymphocytes, and also on other lymphocytes(some B cells and NK cells).

ab10402

CXCR4Highly expressed in brain, heart, white blood cells, vascular endothelial cells
and umbilical cord endothelial cells.

ab2074
ab1671CXCR5Specifically expressed in Burkitt’s lymphoma and lymphatic tissues, such asfollicles in lymph nodes as well as in spleen.

ab12965
ab19017

beta isoform

Beta chemokine receptors
Receptor

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Expressed on peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes. There is somesuggestion that this chemokine receptor is restricted to memory T-cells within
the lymphocyte pool. This receptor is also designated cluster of differentiation
marker CD191

ab1681ab13240

Expressed on the surface of monocytes, activated memory T cells, B cells
and basophils in humans, and also in peritoneal macrophages in mice. It isa receptor for several monocyte chemoattractant proteins (CCL2, CCL7,
CCL13) which specifically mediate monocyte chemotaxis.

ab32144
ab1668CCR3Receptor for CCL11 and CCL24. Expressed in blood, brain, lung, bonemarrow, kidney, liver, lymph node, placenta, skin, spleen, thymus, thyroid
and uterus. Within these tissues, CCR3 is expressed in specific cell types,
including eosinophils, basophils, Th2 cells, CD34+ hematopoetic progenitors,
keratinocytes and mast cells. The agonists for CXCR3 (CXCL9, CXCL10,CXCL11) act as antagonists for CCR3 by competing for the binding of CCL11/ CCL24 to CCR3. CCR3 is thought to play a key role in allergic diseases and isa co-receptor for HIV 1 and 2.

ab1667ab32512CCR4

CCR4 is preferentially expressed on Th2-type cells. In contrast to otherchemokine receptors, the expression of CCR4 and CCR8 is transiently
increased following TCR and CD28 engagement. Activated Th1 cells upregulate CCR4 expression and functional responsiveness to thymus- andactivation-regulated chemokine.

ab1669ab59550

CCR5Expressed on several cell types including peripheral blood-derived dendritic
cells, CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells and certain activated / memory
Th1 lymphocytes. Major co-receptor implicated in susceptibility to HIV-1
infection and disease.

ab1673ab32048

CCR6

Preferentially expressed by immature dendritic cells and memory T cells
where it may regulate the migration and recruitment of dendritic and T cells
during inflammatory and immunological responses. Important for B lineage
maturation and antigen driven B cell differentiation.

ab1659ab13168

CCR7

Expressed in lymphoid tissues and in activated B and T lymphocytes, and has
been shown to control the migration of memory T cells to inflamed tissues,
stimulate dendritic cell maturation and is thought to be a mediator of EBV
effects on B lymphocytes. The chemokine CCL19 has been reported to be a
specific ligand of this receptor.

ab1657ab25790

CCR8This receptor is preferentially expressed in the thymus. Studies of this receptor andits ligands suggest a role in the regulation of monocyte chemotaxis and thymic
cell apoptosis. CCR8 may contribute to the proper positioning of activated T
cells within the antigenic challenge sites and specialized areas of lymphoidtissues. CCR8 expression has been reported in spleen and thymus, natural killer
cells, monocytes and T cells, and at lower levels in peripheral blood leukocytes.

ab1663ab32399

CCR9

Expressed in a range of tissues and hematopoietic cells. Functions inchemokine-driven recirculation of leukocytes and possible chemokine effects
on the development and growth of vascular tumors. This receptor appears
to bind the majority of beta-chemokine family members but specific function
remains unknown. The differential expression of CCR9 by T lymphocytes of thesmall intestine and colon suggests a role in the functional specialization of
immune responses in different segments of the gastrointestinal tract.

ab1662
ab38567

CCR10

Receptor for the skin-associated chemokine CCL27 as well as the novel
chemokine CCL28. Associated with Th2 lymphocytes, found predominantlyin the thymus, in humans.Some expression can be found in the brain, spleen,
lymph node and monocytes at the nucleotide level.

ab3904ab30718

CCR11

Specifically binds the monocyte chemoattractant protein family of
chemokines, including CCL13, CCL8, and CCL2. Also binds CCL11.

ab1660ab32564

CCR2

CD192

CCR7

CCL20

unknown

Delta chemokines (CX3C)

CCR1

CCL17

CXCR5

XCR1

CCR1

Regulates the recruitment and activation of inflammatory
leukocytes, particularly eosinophils. May play afundamental role in the development of allergic responses.

CXCR4

CCR8

CCR1
CCR2
CCR5
CCR11

Eotaxin

CCL19

ab7202ab21554
ab17424

MIP-1γ MRP-2

CCR1
CCR2
CCR3

CCL11

CCL15

Chemoattractant for monocytes and basophils but notneutrophils or eosinophils. Augments monocyte anti-tumor
activity. CCL2 is implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases
characterized by monocytic infiltrates like psoriasis,
rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. It may be involvedin the recruitment of monocytes into the arterial wall during
the disease process of atherosclerosis.

MCP-2

CXCR1 (IL8RA)

CCL13

AbID

MCP-3

CXCR2 (IL8RB)

Beta chemokines (CC)Key to conjugations
Text colour

CCL7

GCP-2

CXCL9

Gamma chemokines (C)CXCR2 (IL8RB)

CXCL6

CXCL8

Beta chemokines are secreted proteins characterized by two adjacent cysteines(C-C). This family of chemokines induce changes in intracellular calcium
concentration and enzyme release in monocytes.

Gamma chemokines (C)Chemokine

CXCL5

The alpha chemokine family is characterized by the separation of the first two cysteine
residues in the amino acid sequence by one amino acid (C-X-C). Alpha chemokines
act primarily on neutrophils as chemoattractants and activators, including neutrophil
degradation, with the release of myloperoxidase and other enzymes.

Beta chemokines (CC) (Continued)

Alpha chemokines (CXC)

Delta chemokine receptors
CCR9

Receptor

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

Expressed in a variety of human tissues and cell lines where it mediates leukocyte
migration and adhesion. Receptor for the novel transmembrane molecule CX3CL1,
and is a co-receptor for HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope fusion and virus infection, which
can be inhibited by binding of CX3CL1. Also implicated in tumor metastasis.

ab8021ab7200CCR3CX3CR1

ab36771

CCR3, CCR2,
CCR10Other chemokine receptors

ab36692
ab37326

CCR10, CCR3

Receptor

DARC

Alternativenames

Role/expression

AbID

A non-specific receptor for many chemokines such as CXCL8, CXCL1, CCL5, CCL2
and CCL17. It is also the receptor for the human malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax
and Plasmodium knowlesi. It is also responsible for the Duffy blood group system.

ab40821ab58965