Anti-Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1alpha (MIP-3a)

MIP-3a (also known as C-C motif chemokine 20, small-inducible cytokine A20, macrophage inflammatory protein 3 alpha, MIP-3-alpha, liver and activation-regulated chemokine, CC chemokine LARC and beta chemokine exodus-1) is a chemotactic factor that attracts lymphocytes and, slightly, neutrophils, but not monocytes. MIP-3a inhibits proliferation of myeloid progenitors in colony formation assays and may be involved in formation and function of the mucosal lymphoid tissues by attracting lymphocytes and dendritic cells towards epithelial cells. C-terminal processed forms have been shown to be equally chemotactically active for leukocytes. MIP-3a also possesses antibacterial activity against E.coli and S.aureus. MIP-3a is a secreted protein that is expressed predominantly in the liver, lymph nodes, appendix, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and fetal lung. Low levels of expression are also seen in thymus, prostate, testis, small intestine and colon. C-terminal processed forms which lack 1, 3 or 6 amino acids are produced by proteolytic cleavage after secretion from peripheral blood monocytes.