This antimicrobial gene is one of several Cys-Cys (CC) cytokine genes clustered on the q-arm of chromosome 17. Cytokines are a family of secreted proteins involved in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. The CC cytokines are proteins characterized by two adjacent cysteines. The cytokine encoded by this gene displays chemotactic activity for monocytes, lymphocytes, basophils and eosinophils, but not neutrophils. This chemokine plays a role in accumulation of leukocytes during inflammation. It may also be involved in the recruitment of monocytes into the arterial wall during artherosclerosis.