RECEPTORS, SIGNAL-TRANSDUCTION, AND SPECTRUM OF ACTION OF MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC PROTEIN-1 AND RELATED CHEMOKINES

Chemokines are a bipartite family of chemotactic proteins that bear the structural hallmark of four cysteine residues, the first two of which are in tandem, The spectrum of action of C-C chemokines, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), MCP-2, and MCP-3, in particular, encompasses, in addition to monocytes, other leukocyte populations, Evidence is presented that MCP-1, MCP-2, and MCP-3 are active on natural killer cells, Available information on receptor usage by MCP-1 and related chemokines and signal transduction pathways is reviewed, A better understanding of signaling mechanisms will provide a new basis for therapeutic strategies.