Description
Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (CCL7) is a small cytokine known as a chemokine that was previously called monocyte-specific chemokine 3 (MCP3). It belongs to the C-C chemokine family. By fluorescence in situ hybridization, the gene is mapped to chromosome 17q11.2-q12. MCP3 was identified as a physiologic substrate of gelatinase A. Cleaved MCP3/CCL7 binds to CC-chemokine receptors-1, -2, and -3, but no longer induces calcium fluxes or promotes chemotaxis, and instead acts as a general chemokine antagonist that dampens inflammation, it has been found that matrix metalloproteinases are both effectors and regulators of the inflammatory response