Description
CCL11 (Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 11), also known as Eotaxin, is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. Eotaxin selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of Eotaxin are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which Eotaxin is a ligand include CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5. However, it has been found that eotaxin-1 (CCL11) has high degree selectivity for its receptor, such that they are inactive on neutrophils and monocytes, which do not express CCR3. The gene for human Eotaxin is encoded on three exons and is located on chromosome 17q12