CCL21
Description
The CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 9.
CCL21, also known as 6Ckine, exodus-2, and secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC), is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. It functions by binding to the CCR7 receptor on the surface of cells. The primary role of CCL21 is to guide CCR7-expressing leukocytes to secondary lymphoid organs, such as lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. The gene for CCL21 is found on human chromosome 9. It is classified as a homeostatic chemokine, meaning it is produced continuously, but its expression increases during inflammation. CCL21 has an extended C-terminus compared to CCL19, another CCR7 ligand. This tail contains 37 amino acids rich in positively charged residues, giving it a high affinity for negatively charged molecules in the extracellular matrix. Peptidases can cleave the C-terminal tail, producing a soluble form of CCL21.
CCL21 is also known as 6Ckine, CKb9, ECL, SCYA21, SLC, TCA4.
