Ccl21a
Function
Inhibits hemopoiesis and stimulates chemotaxis. Chemotactic in vitro for thymocytes and activated T-cells, but not for B-cells, macrophages, or neutrophils. Potent mesangial cell chemoattractant. Shows preferential activity towards naive T-cells. May play a role in mediating homing of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs.
Involvement in disease
Mice carrying an autosomal recessive mutation designated paucity of lymph node T-cells (plt) show dramatically reduced numbers of T-cells in lymph nodes, Peyer patches, and the white pulp of the spleen. Plt seems to correspond to Scya21b.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the intercrine beta (chemokine CC) family.
Tissue Specificity
Expressed strongly in lung, spleen, thymus, peripheral and mesentric lymph nodes. Also expressed in the testis, kidney, liver, and heart.
Cellular localization
- Secreted
Alternative names
Scya21, Scya21a, Ccl21a, C-C motif chemokine 21a, 6Ckine, Beta-chemokine exodus-2, Small-inducible cytokine A21a, Thymus-derived chemotactic agent 4, TCA4