Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 6 (CCL6), also known as C-C chemokine C10 has only been identified in rodents, which is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family, beta-chemokine subfamily. C-C chemokine C10 is involved in the chronic stages of host defense reactions. C10 chemokine rapidly promotes disease resolution in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model through its direct effects on the cellular events critically involved in host defense during septic peritonitis. CCL6 appears to contribute to the macrophage infiltration that is independent of other CC chemokines. C10 is a prominent chemokine expressed in the central nervous system in experimental inflammatory demyelinating disease, also acts as a potent chemotactic factor for the migration of these leukocytes to the brain. CCL6 may be a mediator released by microglia for cell-cell communication under physiological as well as pathological conditions of CNS. Additionally, the chemokine CCL6 may alter tumor behavior by relieving its growth factor dependency and by promoting invasiveness as a result of local tissue apoptosis.
