Structure and function of the CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 8.

The CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 8 belongs to the seven transmembrane-spanning receptor family and functionally responds to the eukaryotic CC chemokines I-309, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1b) and to the products viral MIP-I and viral MIP-II of the Kaposi-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8). Although it has not yet been fully characterised, its restricted expression to lymphoid tissues, i.e. thymus, spleen and lymph nodes, and its abundant up-regulation in Th2 lymphocytes suggest a potential role in lymphocyte activation, migration and differentiation and in allergic diseases. In this article we review the data known up to now related to CCR8 from cloning to protein structure, expression patterns and functional activation by its agonists.