CCL21: Chemokine (C-C motif) Ligand 21
A key chemokine involved in lymphocyte trafficking, lymph node homing, and immune regulation.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | CCL21 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | C-C motif chemokine ligand 21 |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 9p13.3 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 6366 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6366 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000137077 |
| UniProt ID | O00585 |
| OMIM ID | 602737 |
| HGNC ID | 10621 |
| Aliases | 6Ckine, SLC, SCYA21, CKb9, ECL |
Description
CCL21 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 21) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. It is primarily expressed in high endothelial venules (HEVs) and secondary lymphoid organs. CCL21 binds to the chemokine receptor CCR7, mediating the homing of naive T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells to lymph nodes. It plays a critical role in immune surveillance, lymphocyte trafficking, and the formation of lymphoid tissue architecture. Dysregulation of CCL21 is implicated in inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer metastasis.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | CCL21/CCR7 axis promotes recruitment of pathogenic T cells and dendritic cells to synovial tissue, driving chronic inflammation. | PMID: 21727185 |
| Breast Cancer Metastasis | CCL21 expressed in lymph nodes attracts CCR7+ tumor cells, facilitating lymph node metastasis. | PMID: 15240667 |
| Lung Cancer | CCL21 overexpression in tumor microenvironment correlates with increased regulatory T cell infiltration and poor prognosis. | PMID: 23775876 |
| Multiple Sclerosis | CCL21 upregulation in CNS promotes CCR7+ lymphocyte infiltration and neuroinflammation. | PMID: 19667089 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Lymph Node | 45.2 | High |
| Spleen | 38.7 | High |
| Appendix | 22.1 | Medium |
| Lung | 12.5 | Medium |
| Small Intestine | 8.9 | Low |
| Thymus | 6.3 | Low |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK 293 | 0.8 | Low expression; used for recombinant protein production |
| Jurkat T cells | 2.1 | Moderate; CCL21 induces chemotaxis via CCR7 |
| Dendritic cells (immature) | 1.5 | Low; expression increases upon maturation |
| HUVEC | 0.3 | Very low; not a major source |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.248C>T (p.Thr83Met) | Missense | <0.01% | Reduced chemotactic activity in vitro; rare population variant |
| c.364G>A (p.Gly122Ser) | Missense | <0.01% | Altered receptor binding; functional impact unknown |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
No well-characterized loss-of-function mutations reported in CCL21. Knockout mouse models show impaired lymphocyte homing and lymphoid organ architecture.
Gain of Function (GOF)
No confirmed gain-of-function mutations in humans. Overexpression in tumors is associated with enhanced metastasis.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not described for CCL21.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • chemokine activity | • CCR7 chemokine receptor binding |
| • extracellular space | • immune response |
| • lymphocyte chemotaxis | • positive regulation of T cell migration |
| • cell-cell signaling |
Pathways
• Chemokine signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04062)
• Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (KEGG: hsa04060)
• CCR7-mediated signaling (Reactome: R-HSA-373790)
Protein Summary
CCL21 is a 134-amino acid secreted chemokine with a characteristic CC motif. It is produced as a precursor with a 23-amino acid signal peptide. The mature protein contains four conserved cysteine residues forming two disulfide bonds. CCL21 is highly basic (pI ~10.5) and binds to glycosaminoglycans on endothelial surfaces, facilitating presentation to CCR7+ cells. It is structurally similar to CCL19, another CCR7 ligand, but has a unique extended C-terminal tail that enhances matrix binding. The protein is essential for lymphoid organogenesis and adaptive immunity.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCL21 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ549 | Human | 6366 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCL21 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ54427 | Human | 6366 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCL21 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ62915 | Human | 6366 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCL21 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ71384 | Human | 6366 | Details Get a Quote |
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