vMIP2 is a chemokine analog encoded by the human herpesvirus (HHV8) and is a potent in vitro antagonist of many chemokine receptors. In vivo vMIP2 has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of type 1 T-cell-mediated inflammation. Three chemokine-like proteins, vMIP-I, vMIP-II and vMIP-III are encoded within the HHV8 genome. Among human chemokines, vMIP2 is most closely related to MIP-1a, sharing approximately 41% amino acid sequence identity. The CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 8 belongs to the seven transmembrane-spanning receptor families and functionally responds to the eukaryotic CC chemokines I-309, MIP 1b and vMIPI and vMIP2. Both vMIP I and vMIP2 partially block HIV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. vMIPI and vMIP2 are also highly angiogenic. Chemokines play a profound role in leukocyte trafficking and the development of adaptive immune responses. Perhaps due to their importance in host defense, viruses have adopted many of the hallmarks displayed by chemokines. One therapeutic strategy to prevent accumulation of pro-inflammatory immune cells is the use of specific chemokine receptor antagonists. An interesting and promising candidate in this context is the viral antagonist vMIP2 as this molecule acts on a broad spectrum of chemokine receptors.

Secreted