CC chemokine receptors are important modulators of inflammation. Although CC chemokine
receptors have been found predominantly on leukocytes, recent studies have suggested that
vascular smooth muscle cells respond to CC chemokines. We now report that human
smooth muscle cells express CCR5, a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus. CCR5
mRNA was detectable by RNA blot hybridization in human aortic and coronary artery
smooth muscle cells. The cDNA generated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain …