MIP 5 (68 a.a) Human exhibits chemotactic and signaling roles through interactions with chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR3:
Chemotaxis: Induces migration of monocytes, T lymphocytes, and eosinophils at concentrations as low as 1–10 ng/ml .
Calcium Flux: Activates CCR1-transfected cells, triggering intracellular calcium mobilization .
Receptor Competition: Competes with MIP-1α (CCL3) for CCR1 binding and with MCP-3 (CCL7) for CCR3 binding .
Mast Cell Activation: MIP-5 synergizes with IgE to enhance mast cell degranulation, contributing to acute-phase allergic reactions .
Cancer Association: Elevated CCL15 levels correlate with malignant transformation in colorectal polyps, suggesting a role in tumor microenvironment modulation .
Proteolytic Activation: Truncated forms of CCL15 (including the 68-a.a variant) exhibit enhanced CCR1 binding after proteolytic processing in inflammatory contexts .
Storage:
Research Use: Limited to in vitro studies (e.g., chemotaxis assays, receptor-binding experiments) .
Excluded Uses: Not approved for diagnostic, therapeutic, or agricultural applications .
MIP-5 (68 a.a) Human refers to a specific form of the human CC chemokine CCL15, spanning amino acids Ser46 to Ile113 of the complete sequence . This chemokine is known by several alternative names including Leukotactin-1 (LKN-1), MIP-5, HCC-2, and NCC-3 .
For proper identification in research:
Use HGNC (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee) approved name CCL15 as the primary identifier
Include alternative nomenclature in methods sections
Always specify the exact amino acid sequence or residue range when working with truncated forms
Document the specific recombinant preparation used (e.g., E. coli-derived, with or without carrier protein)
MIP-5/CCL15 primarily exerts its biological activities through interactions with CC chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR3 . These G protein-coupled receptors typically signal through heterotrimeric Gi proteins, as demonstrated by inhibition studies with pertussis toxin .
Methodological approaches to study receptor interactions include:
Competitive binding assays with other known receptor ligands
Chemotaxis assays with receptor antagonists or blocking antibodies
Pertussis toxin inhibition studies to confirm Gi protein involvement
Optimal reconstitution of recombinant MIP-5/CCL15 (68 a.a) protein depends on the preparation:
For preparations with carrier protein (BSA):
Reconstitute at 10 μg/mL in sterile PBS containing at least 0.1% human or bovine serum albumin
The product is typically shipped at ambient temperature
Upon receipt, store immediately at recommended temperatures
Use a manual defrost freezer and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
For carrier-free preparations:
Follow the same shipping and storage recommendations as above
The carrier-free version is recommended for applications where BSA might interfere with experimental outcomes .
MIP-5/CCL15 plays several key roles in normal physiology:
Immune cell chemotaxis: Attracts cells expressing CCR1 and CCR3 receptors
Angiogenesis: Promotes endothelial cell migration and differentiation
Vascular development: Stimulates sprouting of vessels in various model systems
These functions can be evaluated through:
In vitro chemotaxis assays using Boyden chambers or Transwell systems
Endothelial tube formation assays
Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays for in vivo angiogenesis
N-terminal truncation dramatically enhances the biological activity of MIP-5/CCL15. Research demonstrates that the N-terminal truncated form CCL15(25-92) is at least 100-fold more potent than the full-length CCL15(1-92) in stimulating endothelial cell migration and differentiation . The 68 a.a form (Ser46-Ile113) represents another truncated version with potentially altered activity profile .
This effect is consistent with observations from other chemokines where N-terminal processing by proteases can significantly enhance receptor binding and activation. To investigate these effects:
Generate multiple recombinant proteins with different N-terminal truncations
Compare binding affinities to CCR1 and CCR3 using surface plasmon resonance
Perform dose-response curves in chemotaxis and angiogenesis assays
Use site-directed mutagenesis to identify critical residues in the N-terminus
MIP-5/CCL15 demonstrates significant angiogenic properties, with the truncated form being particularly potent . Both CCL15(1-92) and the N-terminal truncated CCL15(25-92) stimulate chemotactic endothelial cell migration and differentiation, with the truncated form showing approximately 100-fold greater potency .
In vitro methods:
Endothelial cell migration assays (Boyden chamber, wound healing)
Tube formation assays on Matrigel
In vivo methods:
Matrigel plug assay in mice
Zebrafish vascular development models
Mechanism investigation:
Analysis of downstream signaling pathways
Research has shown that treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), anti-CCR1, or anti-CCR3 antibodies inhibits the CCL15(25-92)-induced endothelial cell migration, confirming the involvement of these specific receptors and Gi-coupled signaling in the angiogenic response .
The structural basis for chemokine recognition and receptor activation provides important insights into how MIP-5/CCL15 might interact with its receptors. While specific structural data for MIP-5/CCR1 or CCR3 complexes is limited, research on related chemokine-receptor pairs offers valuable comparison points.
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography studies of chemokine-receptor complexes reveal important details about these interactions:
Chemokines like MIP-1α and RANTES bind to CCR5 with distinct binding modes
G protein coupling (particularly to Gi proteins) follows chemokine binding
Toggle switch mechanisms and rearrangements in the receptor extracellular region are critical for activation
Conserved residues, such as a tryptophan in helix II, can act as triggers for receptor activation
These structural insights can guide experimental designs for investigating MIP-5/CCL15 interactions with its receptors using similar methodologies.
As a chemokine involved in immune cell recruitment and angiogenesis, MIP-5/CCL15 may play roles in various pathological conditions including inflammation, cancer, and immune disorders. Appropriate experimental models include:
For inflammation studies:
Acute inflammation models (air pouch, peritonitis)
Chronic inflammation models (colitis, arthritis)
Humanized mouse models expressing human CCR1/CCR3
For angiogenesis-related diseases:
Tumor xenograft models to study cancer angiogenesis
Ischemia models to study therapeutic angiogenesis
Retinal neovascularization models
For mechanistic investigations:
Transgenic models with cell-specific CCR1/CCR3 expression
Receptor knockout models
Models with fluorescent reporter tags for tracking cellular responses
These models can be complemented with analysis of human patient samples to establish clinical relevance.
Optimizing functional assays for MIP-5/CCL15 requires careful consideration of several factors:
Chemotaxis assays:
Cell type selection: Use cells naturally expressing CCR1/CCR3 or stable transfectants
Medium composition: Low serum (0.1-1%) reduces background migration
Incubation time: Typically 2-4 hours for maximal response
Positive controls: Include established chemokines for CCR1/CCR3 (e.g., MIP-1α, RANTES)
Endothelial cell assays:
Cell source: Primary human endothelial cells vs. cell lines
Passage number: Low passage cells (P2-P5) maintain better receptor expression
Readout methods: Direct cell counting vs. fluorescent labeling
Assay duration: 4-24 hours depending on the specific assay
Receptor activation assays:
Calcium flux: Rapid (seconds to minutes) with appropriate calcium indicators
cAMP inhibition: Measure decreases in forskolin-stimulated cAMP levels
ERK phosphorylation: Peak activation typically at 5-15 minutes
The ED50 for MIP-5/CCL15 (68 a.a) in chemotaxis assays ranges from 0.6-3 ng/mL for cells expressing CCR1 , providing a reference point for assay development.
The biological properties of MIP-5/CCL15, particularly its angiogenic activity, suggest several potential therapeutic applications:
Pro-angiogenic applications:
Therapeutic angiogenesis for ischemic diseases
Wound healing enhancement
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Anti-inflammatory applications:
Antagonism of MIP-5/CCL15 or its receptors in inflammatory disorders
Modulation of specific immune cell recruitment
Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents
Development of these applications requires:
Structure-activity relationship studies to identify key functional domains
Development of stable analogs with improved pharmacokinetics
Targeted delivery systems for tissue-specific effects
Comprehensive safety profiling in relevant models
Advanced structural biology approaches provide critical insights into MIP-5/CCL15 function:
Structural techniques applicable to MIP-5/CCL15 research:
X-ray crystallography of the chemokine alone or in complex with receptors
NMR spectroscopy for dynamic studies of chemokine-receptor interactions
Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to map binding interfaces
Recent advances in cryo-EM have enabled visualization of chemokine-receptor-G protein complexes, revealing how chemokines like MIP-1α and RANTES bind to CCR5 and trigger G protein coupling . Similar approaches could illuminate the structural basis of MIP-5/CCL15 interactions with CCR1 and CCR3.
These structural insights can guide:
Rational design of agonists or antagonists
Understanding of receptor selectivity determinants
Identification of allosteric binding sites for drug development
Elucidation of activation mechanisms
Researchers face several technical challenges when working with MIP-5/CCL15:
Production and handling:
Ensuring proper folding and disulfide bond formation in recombinant preparations
Maintaining stability during storage and experimental procedures
Controlling for batch-to-batch variations in activity
Specificity and selectivity:
Distinguishing CCR1 vs. CCR3-mediated effects
Accounting for potential binding to other receptors or proteoglycans
Controlling for effects of endogenous chemokines in complex systems
Translational considerations:
Species differences in receptor binding and signaling
Context-dependent activity in different tissues
Complex interactions with other chemokines and inflammatory mediators
Addressing these challenges requires rigorous experimental design, appropriate controls, and complementary approaches to validate findings.
The gene encoding CCL15 is located on chromosome 17, where many human CC chemokine genes are found . CCL15 shares 35% amino acid homology with another human chemokine, CCL14 (HCC1) . It is most abundantly expressed in the heart, skeletal muscle, and adrenal gland, with lower expression levels in the liver, small intestine, colon, and certain leukocytes and macrophages in the lung .
CCL15 is fully biologically active and has been shown to be chemotactic for T cells and monocytes . It induces calcium flux in human CCR-1-transfected cells . The biological activity of CCL15 is typically measured by its ability to chemoattract THP-1 human acute monocytic leukemia cells, with an effective dose (ED50) in the range of 2-4 ng/ml .
Recombinant human CCL15 is produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and other chromatographic techniques . The protein is lyophilized from a filtered concentrated solution containing phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 . It is recommended to reconstitute the lyophilized protein in sterile water or an aqueous buffer containing 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) to a concentration of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL .
Lyophilized CCL15 is stable at room temperature for up to three weeks but should be stored desiccated below -18°C for long-term storage . Upon reconstitution, the protein should be stored at 4°C for 2-7 days and below -18°C for future use . To ensure maximal stability, it is recommended to add a carrier protein (0.1% HSA or BSA) and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles .