Regulated On Activation In Normal T-Cell Expressed And Secreted (RANTES)

Regulated on activation in normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES) was identified in 1988, as a result of a subtractive hybridization screen for mRNA expressed by T cells, but not by B cells. In addition to T cells, RANTES is also produced by epithelial cells, monocytes, fibroblasts, and mesanglial cells. Platelets and eosinophils release RANTES from intracellular storage granules upon activation. Several high affinity receptors for RANTES have been described, including CCR1, CCR3, CCR5, and cytomegalovirus receptor US28. RANTES also binds to the erythrocyte Duffy antigen receptor (DARC) with low affinity. RANTES regulates the trafficking of cells expressing these receptors, including T cells, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, macrophages, microglia, NK cells, dendritic cells, mast cells, and neurons.