The RANTES Chemokine

RANTES is a member of the C-C family of chemoattractant cytokines (chemokines). It is secreted by T lymphocytes late after activation, and by fibroblasts, epithelial cells and endothelial cells after stimulation with tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and interferon-γ. RANTES is a potent chemoattractant for monocytes, memory T cells, basophils and eosinophils. It also triggers basophil degranulation and activates eosinophils.