CCR4

{{Short description|Protein-coding gene in humans}}

{{Infobox_gene}}

C-C chemokine receptor type 4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCR4 gene.{{cite journal | vauthors = Power CA, Meyer A, Nemeth K, Bacon KB, Hoogewerf AJ, Proudfoot AE, Wells TN | title = Molecular cloning and functional expression of a novel CC chemokine receptor cDNA from a human basophilic cell line | journal = J Biol Chem | volume = 270 | issue = 33 | pages = 19495–500 |date=Sep 1995 | pmid = 7642634 | doi =10.1074/jbc.270.33.19495 | doi-access = free }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Samson M, Soularue P, Vassart G, Parmentier M | title = The genes encoding the human CC-chemokine receptors CC-CKR1 to CC-CKR5 (CMKBR1-CMKBR5) are clustered in the p21.3-p24 region of chromosome 3 | journal = Genomics | volume = 36 | issue = 3 | pages = 522–6 |date=Feb 1997 | pmid = 8884276 | doi = 10.1006/geno.1996.0498 }}{{cite web | title = Entrez Gene: CCR4 chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 4| url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=gene&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=1233}} CCR4 has also been designated CD194 (cluster of differentiation 194).

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor family. It is a receptor for the following CC chemokines:

• CCL2 (MCP-1)
• CCL4 (MIP-1)
• CCL5 (RANTES)
• CCL17 (TARC){{cite journal | vauthors = Imai T, Baba M, Nishimura M, Kakizaki M, Takagi S, Yoshie O | title = The T cell-directed CC chemokine TARC is a highly specific biological ligand for CC chemokine receptor 4 | journal = J. Biol. Chem. | volume = 272 | issue = 23 | pages = 15036–42 |date=June 1997 | pmid = 9169480 | doi = 10.1074/jbc.272.23.15036 | doi-access = free }}
• CCL22 (Macrophage-derived chemokine){{cite journal | vauthors = Imai T, Chantry D, Raport CJ, Wood CL, Nishimura M, Godiska R, Yoshie O, Gray PW | title = Macrophage-derived chemokine is a functional ligand for the CC chemokine receptor 4 | journal = J. Biol. Chem. | volume = 273 | issue = 3 | pages = 1764–8 |date=January 1998 | pmid = 9430724 | doi = 10.1074/jbc.273.3.1764 | doi-access = free }}

Chemokines are a group of small structurally related proteins that regulate cell trafficking of various types of leukocytes. The chemokines also play fundamental roles in the development, homeostasis, and function of the immune system, and they have effects on cells of the central nervous system as well as on endothelial cells involved in angiogenesis or angiostasis.

CCR4 is a cell-surface protein and should not be confused with the unrelated carbon catabolite repression-negative on TATA-less (CCR4-Not), a nuclear protein complex that regulates gene expression.