protein_function: Has chemotactic activity for neutrophils. Contributes toneutrophil activation during inflammation.
Chemokine(C-X-C motif) ligand 1(CXCL1) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that was previously called GRO1 oncogene, GROalpha, KC, Neutrophil-activating protein 3(NAP-3) and melanoma growth stimulating activity, alpha(MSGA-alpha). In humans, this protein is encoded by the CXCL1 gene. The gene for CXCL1 is located on human chromosome 4 amongst genes for other CXC chemokines. The mature form of CXCL1 is maximally 73 amino acids long. CXCL1 is secreted by human melanoma cells, has mitogenic properties and is implicated in melanoma pathogenesis. CXCL1 is expressed by macrophages, neutrophils and epithelial cells, and has neutrophil chemoattractant activity. This chemokine elicits its effects by signaling through the chemokine receptor CXCR2.CXCL1 decreased the severity of multiple sclerosis and may offer a neuro-protective function.