CCL5

What is CCL5 protein?

CCL5 gene (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) is a protein coding gene which situated on the long arm of chromosome 17 at locus 17q12. Chemokines form a superfamily of secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. The superfamily is divided into four subfamilies based on the arrangement of the N-terminal cysteine residues of the mature peptide. This chemokine, a member of the CC subfamily, functions as a chemoattractant for blood monocytes, memory T helper cells and eosinophils. It causes the release of histamine from basophils and activates eosinophils. It functions as one of the natural ligands for the chemokine receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5), and it suppresses in vitro replication of the R5 strains of HIV-1, which use CCR5 as a coreceptor. The CCL5 protein is consisted of 91 amino acids and CCL5 molecular weight is approximately 10.0 kDa.

What is the function of CCL5 protein?

CCL5 can attract immune cells such as T lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils, and regulate inflammatory response and immune response. In the nervous system, CCL5 supports nerve activity and nerve growth and may function as a trophic factor. CCL5 is associated with synaptic plasticity, cognition and spatial memory in the hippocampus, and has a positive effect on memory function. CCL5 promotes glucose uptake and mitochondrial function, enhancing the energy supply of cells, and is particularly important for nerve cells. CCL5 is involved in regulating the formation and maintenance of synapses and is essential for learning and memory processes. CCL5 may have a dual role in the tumor microenvironment, both attracting immunosuppressive cells to promote immune tolerance and promoting the recruitment of immune effector cells.

CCL5 related signaling pathway

In general, the CCL5/CCR5 axis influences cell behavior and gene expression by activating a variety of downstream signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, HIF-α, RAS-ERK-MEK, YAK-stat, and TGF-β-smad. CCL5 binds to CCR5 and activates G-protein-coupled receptors, triggering downstream signaling pathways that lead to migration and chemotaxis of immune cells such as T cells, monocytes, and macrophages. The CCL5/CCR5 signaling pathway promotes the release of inflammatory factors and exacerbates the inflammatory response by activating PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, HIF-α, RAS-ERK-MEK, YAK-stat and TGF-β-smad signaling pathways. CCR5 inhibitors such as Maravero (MVC) can block CCL5/CCR5 signaling, reduce abnormal activation of mTORC1, increase the number of autophagosomes, and reduce the aggregation of neurotoxic proteins, showing potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

CCL5 related diseases

CCL5 is a cytokine, also known as macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which plays an important role in immune response and inflammation. CCL5 has been linked to a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, tumors, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and more. In autoimmune diseases, CCL5 can promote the infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells, leading to tissue damage and increased inflammatory response. In tumors, CCL5 can promote the growth and spread of tumor cells. In cardiovascular disease, CCL5 can promote the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells, resulting in thickening of blood vessel walls and hardening of blood vessels. In neurological diseases, CCL5 can promote neuronal death and neurodegeneration.

Fig1. Involvement of CCL5 in pathological processes in periodontitis. (Katarzyna Barczak, 2023)

Bioapplications of CCL5

In terms of disease treatment, CCL5 can be used as a therapeutic target to treat related diseases by inhibiting or regulating its expression. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, inhibiting CCL5 expression can reduce inflammatory responses and joint pain; In cancer therapy, inhibition of CCL5 expression can prevent the growth and spread of tumor cells. In addition, CCL5 can be used as a target for drug development. At present, there are several drugs targeting CCL5 in development, such as anti-CCL5 monoclonal antibodies and CCL5 inhibitors. These drugs can be used to treat autoimmune diseases, tumors, cardiovascular disease and many other conditions.