CCL-13 (MCP-4)

CCL13, also known as Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein4 (MCP4), is a CC chemokine that acts as a chemoattractant for monocytes, eosinophils and T cells and as an activator of basophils. Human CCL13 cDNA encodes a 98 amino acid residue precursor protein with a 23 amino acid residue hydrophobic signal peptide that is cleaved to yield an 8 kDa, 75 aa mature CCL13. Mature CCL13 lacks any potential N-glycosylation sites and shares a pyroglutamate proline motif with other human MCP proteins. Human CCL13 is most homologous to MCP1, 3 and Eotaxin, exhibiting approximately 65-66% amino acid sequence identity. CCL13 mRNA is expressed by a number of activated cell types, including endothelial cells, macrophages, bronchial epithelium and type II alveolar cells, and perhaps lymphocytes. The bioactivities of CCL13 are mediated by the CC chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR3.