C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is a key driver of monocyte/macrophage trafficking to sites of inflammation and has long been considered a target for intervention in autoimmune disease.
While CCR6 recruits resting γδT17 cells to the dermis, CCR2 drives rapid γδT17 cell recruitment to inflamed tissues during autoimmunity, cancer and infection.
CCR2 has been widely considered as a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, and various CCR2 blocking agents have been developed, some of which have entered clinical trials.
We have analysed the expression of CXCR3 and CCR5 as Th1-specific chemokine receptors, CCR3 as a marker for Th2 cells, CXCR4 (expressed on unprimed, naive T cells) and CCR2 (known to be involved in autoimmunity) on peripheral blood (PBL) and thyroid-derived lymphocytes (TL) using flow cytometry.