This gene is one of several Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes
clustered on the q arm of chromosome 16. Cytokines are a family of
secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory
processes. The CC cytokines are proteins characterized by two
adjacent cysteines. The cytokine encoded by this gene displays
chemotactic activity for T lymphocytes, but not monocytes or
granulocytes. The product of this gene binds to chemokine receptors
CCR4 and CCR8. This chemokine plays important roles in T cell
development in thymus as well as in trafficking and activation of
mature T cells.
