Description
Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-3 Alpha (MIP3A) also known as CCL20 or liver activation regulated chemokine (LARC) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. It is strongly chemotactic for lymphocytes and weakly attracts neutrophils.1 MIP3A is specifically expressed by the follicle-associated epithelia (FAE) covering intestinal Peyer's patches (PPs) and is the only known chemokine ligand for the chemokine receptor CCR6.2 MIP3-alpha is produced by intestinal epithelial cells (including cells associated with mucosal lymphoid tissues), by keratinocytes in inflamed skin, and by cells in liver and lung.3,4 It plays an important role in the inflammatory response of blood monocytes and tissue macrophages