B cell- and monocyte-activating chemokine (BMAC), a novel non-ELR alpha-chemokine

A novel alpha-chemokine, designated KS1, was identified from an EST databas e of a murine immature keratinocyte cDNA library. The ESI has 94% similarit y to a recently cloned human gene, BRAK, that has no demonstrated function. Northern analysis of mouse and human genes showed detectable mRNA in brain , intestine, muscle and kidney. Tumour panel blots showed that BRAK was dow n-regulated in cervical adenocarcinoma and uterine leiomyoma, but was up-re gulated in breast invasive ductal carcinoma. KS1 bound specifically to a ce lls and macrophages, as well as two a cell lines, CESS and A20, and a monoc yte line, THP-1, KS1 showed no binding to naive or activated T cells. In ad dition, KS1 stimulated the chemotaxis of CESS and THP-1 cells but not T cel ls. The s.c. injection of KS1 creates a mixed inflammatory response in Nude and C3H/HeJ mice. The above data indicates that KS1 and its human homologu e represents a novel non-ELR a-chemokine that may have important roles in t rafficking of a cells and monocytes, We propose the name a cell- and monocy te-activating chemokine (BMAC) for this molecule to reflect the described b iological functions.