THE VIRAL CHEMOKINE MACROPHAGE INFLAMMATORY PROTEIN-II IS A SELECTIVETH2 CHEMOATTRACTANT

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions are characterized by a prominent leukocy te infiltrate composed of mononuclear phagocytes and T cells. KS-assoc iated CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells showed predominantly a type II cytokine profile. The CC chemokine viral macrophage inflammatory protein-II (vM IP-II) encoded by the KS-associated herpes virus 8 was a Selective che moattractant for T helper 2 (Th2 cells) and for monocytes, whereas it was inactive on other leukocytes, including Th1 cells, dendritic cells , and natural killer (NK) cells. vMIP-II was an agonist for CCR8, a ch emokine receptor selectively expressed on CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells with a type II cytokine profile. Hence, vMIP-II has agonist activity for a chemokine receptor (CCR8), which is preferentially expressed on polar ized Th2 cells. The capacity of vMIP-II to attract type II T cells sel ectively is likely to be a component of the virus strategy to subvert the host immune response. (C) 1998 by The American Society of Hematolo gy.