ccl21

CCL21 (chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 21) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. It is also known as 6Ckine due to its six conserved cysteine residues, exodus-2, and secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC). CCL21 primarily functions by binding to the cell surface receptor CCR7. Its main biological role is guiding CCR7-expressing leukocytes—such as T cells and dendritic cells—to secondary lymphoid organs like lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches[5]. CCL21 has an extended C-terminal region that allows it to interact with extracellular matrix components; cleavage of this tail produces a soluble form with distinct functional properties[5]. Mechanistically, CCL21 induces chemotaxis of immune cells via activation of CCR7 and downstream signaling pathways such as MEK-ERK[3][6]. In cancer immunotherapy research, recombinant or gene-modified forms of CCL21 are being explored for their ability to attract antigen-presenting cells and cytotoxic effectors into tumors to enhance anti-tumor immunity[1][4].

Other names

chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine