BROAD-SPECTRUM CHEMOKINE ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF A HUMAN POXVIRUS CHEMOKINE HOMOLOG

A secreted CC chemokine homolog, encoded by the MC148 gene of molluscu m contagiosum virus, potently interfered with the chemotaxis of human monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in response to a large number of CC and CXC chemokines with diverse receptor specificities. Evidence that the viral protein binds to human chemokine receptors was obtaine d by competition binding and calcium mobilization experiments. The bro ad spectrum chemokine antagonistic activity of MC148 can explain the p rolonged absence of an inflammatory response in skin tumors that harbo r replicating molluscum contagiosum virus.