Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) , also called macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) , Growth-regulated protein beta (Gro-beta) and Gro oncogene-2 (Gro-2) , is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family. CXCL2/MIP-2 is selectively up-regulated in tolerance-conferring APCs and serves to recruit NKT cells to the splenic marginal zone , where they form clusters with APCs and T cells. In the absence of the high-affinity receptor for CXCL2/MIP-2 or in the presence of a blocking Ab to CXCL2/MIP-2 , peripheral tolerance is prevented , and Ag-specific T regulatory cells are not generated. CXCL2/MIP-2 is selectively up-regulated in tolerance-conferring APCs and serves to recruit NKT cells to the splenic marginal zone , where they form clusters with APCs and T cells. In the absence of the high-affinity receptor for MIP-2 (as in CXCR2-deficient mice) or in the presence of a blocking Ab to MIP-2 , peripheral tolerance is prevented , and Ag-specific T regulatory cells are not generated. Understanding the regulation of lymphocyte traffic during tolerance induction may lead to novel therapies for autoimmunity , graft acceptance , and tumor rejection. Several studies have implicated the CXCL2 chemokine as a mediator in the development of sepsis. CXCL2/MIP-2 also plays a major role in mediating the neutrophilic inflammatory response of the rodent lung to particles such as quartz , crocidolite asbestos , as well as high doses of other relative innocuous dusts such as titanium dioxide.
