Description
Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 17 (CCL17) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine and is expressed constitutively in thymus, but only transiently in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.1 This chemokine specifically binds and induces chemotaxis in T cells and elicits its effects by interacting with the chemokine receptor CCR4.1,2 CCL17 may be a useful serological marker and may facilitate an assessment of the degree of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).3 It may also participate in the pathogenesis of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) by regulating both allergic and irritant inflammation.4