Monocyte chemoattractant protein-2 (CC chemokine ligand 8) inhibits replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 via CC chemokine receptor 5

CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a coreceptor for cellular entry of monocyte-tropic (R5) strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1, which has been implicated as the predominant phenotype of HIV in early infection. The CCR5 agonists macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and RANTES (regulated on activation, normally T cell-expressed and -secreted) have been shown to block replication of R5 virus in vitro and have gained attention as potential antiviral factors. However, a few reports have suggested that other chemokines may also block R5 HIV-1, including monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-2 (CC chemokine ligand 8). We demonstrate that MCP-2 specifically inhibits replication of R5 HIV-1 and that this activity is additive to that of RANTES. Furthermore, MCP-2 induces a robust, pertussis toxin-sensitive calcium flux in primary lymphocytes, and cross-desensitization studies indicate that MCP-2 acts via CCR5. These data confirm that MCP-2 is a ligand for CCR5 on CD4(+) lymphocytes and can specifically block R5 HIV-1.