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Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) is a CC chemokine paradigmatic of emerging aspects of chemokine immunobiology. It is constitutively expressed, yet microbial products and cytokines regulate its expression with divergent effects of type II (IL-4 and IL-13) and type I (interferon) cytokines. Processing of the mature protein by dipeptidyl peptidase IV/CD26 provides a further level of regulation. It acts on diverse cellular targets including dendritic cells (DC), NK cells, and T cell subsets. Among these, MDC is a potent attractant for CCR4 expressing polarized Th2 and Tc2 cells, and evidence is consistent with a role of this chemokine as an amplification loop of polarized type II responses. Emerging indications on the involvement of MDC in diverse pathologies, ranging from allergic reactions to HIV infection and neoplasia, are discussed.
Mantovani et al. (Fri,) studied this question.