Is secondary lymphoid‐organ chemokine (SLC/CCL21) much more than a constitutive chemokine?

• Published in: Allergy (Copenhagen) Vol. 59; no. 11; pp. 1219 - 1223
• Main Authors: Serra, H. M., Baena‐Cagnani, C. E., Eberhard, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.11.2004; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Allergic diseases; Biological and medical sciences; CCL21; Chemokine CCL21; Chemokines; Chemokines, CC - immunology; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Cytokines; dendritic cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; high endothelial venules; Humans; Immunopathology; Lymphatic system; lymphatic vessels; lymphocytes; Lymphoid Tissue - immunology; Medical sciences; skin; Allergy; Dendritic cell; Immunopathology; Endothelial cell; Secondary; Lymphatic system; lymphocytes; CCL21; Lymphatic; CCL21 ligand; CC chemokine; Venule; Microcirculation; Immunology; Lymphoid organ; dendritic cells; Antigen presenting cell; Blood vessel; lymphatic vessels; Skin; Circulatory system; Lymphocyte; high endothelial venules
• ISSN: 0105-4538; 1398-9995
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00531.x

Chemokines are a superfamily of small cytokines with activities ranging from leukocyte traffick to hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, and tissue organogenesis. Secondary lymphoid‐organ chemokine (SLC/CCL21) was originally reported as a chemokine constitutively expressed by stromal cells and high endothelial venules in secondary lymphoid tissues and endothelium of afferent lymphatics, directing CCR7+ cells. More recently, others and we have demonstrated that SLC/CCL21 is up‐regulated in different skin inflammatory conditions. Thereafter, this molecule is much more than a constitutive chemokine, which could play a role in effector and regulatory immune functions.