CCR5 receptor: biologic and genetic implications in age-related diseases
Carmela Rita Balistreri1, Calogero Caruso, Maria Paola Grimaldi
1Gruppo di Studio sull'Immunosenescenza, Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Metodologie Biomediche, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. crbalistreri@unipa.it
Abstract:
The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a member of CC-chemokine receptor family. CCR5 has the characteristic structure of a seven transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which regulates trafficking and effector functions of memory/effector Th1 cells, macrophages, NK cells, and immature dendritic cells. CCR5 and its ligands are important molecules in viral pathogenesis. CCR5 represents the co-receptor for macrophage (M) and dual (T cell and M)-tropic immunodeficiency viruses. Recent evidence has also demonstrated the role of CCR5 in a variety of human diseases, ranging from infectious and inflammatory diseases to cancer. In this article, we describe the involvement of CCR5 in two age-related diseases, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a possible role of chemokine system on these diseases' pathophysiology. Finally, we review the data on the probable association between CCR5Delta32 deletion and cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease.
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