Background information
The MDC gene is one of several Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes which are 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 MDC displays chemotactic activity for natural killer cells, chronically activated T lymphocytes, monocytes and dendritic cells. It has no chemoattractant activity for eosinophils, neutrophils and resting T lymphocytes and also displays a mild activity for primary activated T lymphocytes. The product of this gene binds to chemokine receptor CCR4. This chemokine may play a role in the trafficking of activated T lymphocytes to inflammatory sites and other aspects of activated T lymphocyte physiology.