CCR11 is a functional receptor for the monocyte chemoattractant protein family of chemokines

Chemokines mediate their diverse activities through G protein-coupled recep tors. The human homolog of the bovine orphan receptor PPR1 shares significa nt similarity to chemokine receptors. Transfection of this receptor into mu rine L1.2 cells resulted in responsiveness to monocyte chemoattractant prot ein (MCP)-4, MCP-2, and MCP-1 in chemotaxis assays. Binding studies with ra dio-labeled MCP-4 demonstrated a single high affinity binding site with an IC50 of 0.14 nM. As shown by competition binding, other members of the MCP family also recognized this receptor. MCP-2 was the next most potent ligand , with an IC50 of 0.45 nM, Surprisingly, eotaxin (IC50 = 6.7 nM) and MCP-3 (IC50 = 4.1 nM) bind with greater affinity than MCP-1 (IC50 = 10.7 nM) but only act as agonists in chemotaxis assays at 100-fold higher concentrations . Because of high affinity binding and functional chemotactic responses, we have termed this receptor CCR11. The gene for CCR11 was localized to human chromosome 3q22, which is distinct from most CC chemokine receptor genes a t 3p21. Northern blot hybridization was used to identify CCR11 expression i n heart, small intestine, and lung. Thus CCR11 shares functional similarity to CCR2 because it recognizes members of the MCP family, but CCR11 has a d istinct expression pattern.