Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1α (MIP-1α) is a related member of CC chemokine subfamily. With two major forms as MIP-1α and MIP-1β, they are crucial for immune response towards inflammation and infection. By activating human granulocytes such as basophils, eosinophil and neutrophils, it can lead to high level of neutrophilic inflammation. They are primarily produced by dendritic cells, macrophages and lymphocytes.

These two forms, though being similar in structure, have divergence in their signalling capacities. Since both these subtypes signal through CCR5, so its major co-receptor has HIV-1 strains, and the chemokines are capable of inhibiting HIV-1 infection within susceptible cells. There are two primary components such as migration and adhesion. This has additional effects on haemopoietic stem cell cycling as well as on human immunodeficiency virus uptake by help of macrophages.

As a disulphide linked homodimetric protein, this has a regular chained form. Since HIV is one of the major problems in present times, hence finding an antibody in this respect is very important. With eventual progress to AIDS, unless antiretroviral therapy is to be found. This protein being inflammatory in nature is used for modulating leucocyte activation and trafficking. This was also detected in case of patients with septic conditions.

Studies and clinical research is being carried on in this domain.