CUTTING EDGE - THE CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR CCR8 IS PREFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED IN TH2 BUT NOT TH1 CELLS

In this paper we report on the cloning and characterization of mouse C CR8. Like its human homologue, it is predominantly expressed in the th ymus, In the periphery, murine CCR8 mRNA was found most abundantly exp ressed in activated Th2-polarized cells and in NK1.1(+)CD4(+) T cells. Human CCR8 is also preferentially expressed in human Th2-polarized ce lls and clones, This pattern of expression suggests that CCR8 is part of a Th2-specific gene expression program. The CCR8 ligands I-309 and its mouse homologue T cell activation gene 3 (TCA-3) are potent chemoa ttractants for Th2-polarized cells. Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that CCR8 plays a role in the control of Th2 respons es, and may represent a potential target for treatment of allergic dis eases.