The relationship between CCR6 and its binding partners: does the CCR6-CCL20 axis have to be extended?

Cytokine. 2015 Mar;72(1):97-101. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.029.

Adrian Y S Lee ¹, Thanh K Phan ², Mark D Hulett ², Heinrich Körner ³

Affiliations

1 Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia; Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
2 Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.
3 Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia. Electronic address: heinrich.korner@utas.edu.au.

PMID: 25585877 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.029

Abstract

Chemokines and their receptors are vital for the trafficking of immune cells. In an orchestrated fashion, up- and down-regulation of chemokines and their receptors contribute to both immune system homeostasis as well as inflammation. The CC chemokine, CCL20 and its cognate receptor, CCR6, are described as one of the few chemokine-receptor pairs that show exclusivity. In our review, we analyze observations which indicate that CCR6 does not have CCL20 as an exclusive ligand as once appreciated. For example, attempts to study the pair, utilizing mainly CCR6-deficient mice, are confounded by a family of non-chemokine ligands known as β-defensins that can bind to CCR6 and potentially can activate the cell. Therefore, a review of the activities of Other potential binding partners of CCR6 is essential for interpretation of the current literature on this matter and for an understanding of their involvement in basic immunology and pathology.

Keywords

Beta-defensins; CCL20; CCR6; Chemokines.

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