CCL11

Function

CCL11 is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. CCL11 selectively recruits eosinophils by inducing their chemotaxis, and therefore, is implicated in allergic responses. The effects of CCL11 are mediated by its binding to a G-protein-linked receptor known as a chemokine receptor. Chemokine receptors for which CCL11 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.

Clinical significance

Increased CCL11 levels in blood plasma are associated with aging in mice and humans. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that exposing young mice to CCL11 or the blood plasma of older mice decreases their neurogenesis and cognitive performance on behavioural tasks thought to be dependent on neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Higher plasma concentrations of CCL11 have been found in current cannabis users compared to past users and those who had never used. CCL11 has also been found in higher concentrations in people with schizophrenia; cannabis is a known trigger of schizophrenia.

It's also a biomarker for CTE or punch-drunk syndrome.

During periods of bone inflammation, CCL11 and CCR3 are upregulated. This is associated with an increase in osteoclast activity.

In 2022, Monje et al demonstrated that elevated levels of CCL11 may contribute to the brain fog associated with both chemotherapy and so-called long covid

References

References

1. (August 1997). "Genomic organization, sequence, and transcriptional regulation of the human eotaxin gene". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
2. (March 1994). "Eotaxin: a potent eosinophil chemoattractant cytokine detected in a guinea pig model of allergic airways inflammation". The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
3. (February 1996). "Cloning of the human eosinophil chemoattractant, eotaxin. Expression, receptor binding, and functional properties suggest a mechanism for the selective recruitment of eosinophils". The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
4. (April 1996). "Human eotaxin is a specific chemoattractant for eosinophil cells and provides a new mechanism to explain tissue eosinophilia". Nature Medicine.
5. (April 2001). "Eotaxin is a natural antagonist for CCR2 and an agonist for CCR5". Blood.
6. (March 1996). "Molecular cloning of human eotaxin, an eosinophil-selective CC chemokine, and identification of a specific eosinophil eotaxin receptor, CC chemokine receptor 3". The Journal of Biological Chemistry.
7. (1997). "Human chemokines: an update". Annual Review of Immunology.
8. (August 2011). "The ageing systemic milieu negatively regulates neurogenesis and cognitive function". Nature.
9. (October 2013). "Cannabis use is associated with increased CCL11 plasma levels in young healthy volunteers". Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.
10. (July 2017). "CCL11, a novel mediator of inflammatory bone resorption". Scientific Reports.
11. (July 2022). "Mild respiratory COVID can cause multi-lineage neural cell and myelin dysregulation". Cell.
12. (January 2022). "Mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause multi-lineage cellular dysregulation and myelin loss in the brain".