Role of the chemokine scavenger receptor D6 in balancing inflammation and immune activation

Chemokines play a major role in the induction of inflammatory reactions and development of an appropriate immune response by coordinating leukocyte recruitment. The appropriate control of the chemokine system involves several chemokine decoy receptors, with distinct specificity and tissue distribution, defined as nonactivating chemokine receptors able to bind the ligands and target them to degradation. The best-characterized representative of these receptors is D6, which is located on lymphatic endothelium and controls most inflammatory CC chemokines. Here we will discuss the expression and regulation of D6 during challenge with the pathogen, and its role in dampening inflammation in tissues and draining lymph nodes and in the organization of a protective immune response.