title: The viral chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-II is a selective Th2 chemoattractant.
abstract: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions are characterized by a prominent leukocyte infiltrate composed of mononuclear phagocytes and T cells. KS-associated CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells showed predominantly a type II cytokine profile. The CC chemokine viral macrophage inflammatory protein-II (vMIP-II) encoded by the KS-associated herpes virus 8 was a selective chemoattractant 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 chemokine 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 polarized Th2 cells. The capacity of vMIP-II to attract type II T cells selectively is likely to be a component of the virus strategy to subvert the host immune response.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri,' Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sozzani
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allavena
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romagnani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D054426:Chemokine CXCL2; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015846:Monokines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D054426:Chemokine CXCL2; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D015846:Monokines; D014764:Viral Proteins