The herpesvirus 8-encoded chemokine vMIP-II, but not the poxvirus-encoded chemokine MC148, inhibits the CCR10 receptor

The viral chemokine antagonits vMIP-II encoded by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8 ) and MC148 encoded by the poxvirus - Molluscum contagiosum - were tested a gainst the newly identified chemokine receptor CCR10. As the CCR10 ligand E Skine/CCL27 had the highest identity to MC148 and because both chemokines a re expressed in the skin we suspected MC148 to block CCR10. However, in cal cium mobilization assays we found MC148 unable to block CCR10 in micromolar concentrations in contrast to vMIP-II. I-129-MC148 was only able to bind t o CCR8, but not to CCR10, CCR11, CXCR6/BONZO, APJ, DARC or the orphan recep tors BOB, EBI-II, GPR4, GPR17, HCR or RDC1. We conclude that MC148 is a hig hly selective CCR8 antagonist conceivably optimized to interfere with NK ce ll and monocyte invasion, whereas the broad-spectrum antagonist vMIP-II pro tects HHV8 by blocking multiple receptors.