CCR2/CKR2

C-C or b chemokine family members are characterized by a pair of adjacent cysteine residues and serve as potent chemoattractants and activators of monocytes and T cells. C-C chemokine receptor family members include CKR-1, CKR-2A, CKR-2B, CKR-3, CKR-4, CKR-5, CKR-6, CKR-7, CKR-8, CKR-9, CKR-10 and the Duffy blood group antigen. Each of these receptors are G protein coupled, seven pass transmembrane domain proteins whose major physiological role is to function in the chemotaxis of T cells and phagocytic cells to areas of inflammation. However, this receptor family has also been shown to facilitate viral infection. CKR-2 (C-C chemokine receptor type 2) is a 374 amino acid multi-pass membrane protein that belongs to the C-C chemokine receptor family and is expressed as two isoforms, designated CKR-2A and CKR-2B. Both CKR-2 isoforms function as receptors for a variety of proteins, including MCP-1 and MCP-3, thereby influencing intracellular calcium levels and affecting signal transduction throughout the cell.