CCL18/PARc is a chemotactic factor that attracts lymphocytes but not monocytes or granulocytes. CCL18 was expressed at high levels in lung, lymph nodes, placenta, bone marrow, dendritic cells present in germinal centers and T-cell areas of secondary lymphoid organs and macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes. CCL18 was not expressed by peripheral blood monocytes and a monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is a prerequisite for expression. CCL18 was expressed in synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid and septic arthritis and in ovarian carcinoma ascitic fluid. The serum levels of CCL18 were increased in patients with non-small-cell-lung cancer, acute coronary syndromes and systemic sclerosis.
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