CCR6, A CC-CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR THAT INTERACTS WITH MACROPHAGE INFLAMMATORY PROTEIN 3-ALPHA AND IS HIGHLY EXPRESSED IN HUMAN DENDRITIC CELLS

Dendritic cells initiate immune responses by ferrying antigen from the tissues to the lymphoid organs for presentation to lymphocytes. Littl e is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this migratory be havior. We have identified a chemokine receptor which appears to be se lectively expressed in human dendritic cells derived from CD34(+) cord blood precursors, but not in dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes. When stably expressed as a recombinant protein in a v ariety of host cell backgrounds, the receptor shows a strong interacti on with only one chemokine among 25 tested: the recently reported CC c hemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha. Thus, we have design ated this receptor as the CC chemokine receptor 6. The cloning and cha racterization of a dendritic cell CC chemokine receptor suggests a rol e for chemokines in the control of the migration of dendritic cells an d the regulation of dendritic cell function in immunity and infection.