1 C-C chemokine receptor-1 (CCR1) has been implicated in mediating a variety of in¯ammatory conditions including multiple sclerosis and organ rejection. Although originally referred to as the MIP-1a/RANTES receptor, CCR1 is quite promiscuous and can be activated by numerous chemokines. 2 We used radioligand binding and [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange assays in membranes from a cell line transfected to express CCR1 (Ba/F3-hCCR1) to characterize a panel of chemokines (HCC-1, MIP1a, MIP-1b, MIP-1d, MPIF-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, and RANTES) as CCR1 ligands. In this recombinant model, these chemokines displaced 125 I-MIP-1a with a wide range of potencies and, with the exception of MCP-2, acted as full agonists in stimulating [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange. 3 We then assessed the utility of HL-60 cells cultured with known di erentiating agents (PMA, DMSO, dibutyryl-cAMP or retinoic acid) for investigating CCR1 pharmacology. In [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange assays, membranes from cells cultured with retinoic acid (4 ± 6 days) were the most responsive to activation by MIP-1a and MPIF-1. FACS analysis and comparative pharmacology con®rmed that these activities were mediated by CCR1. HCC-1, haemo®ltrate CC chemokine 1; IP-10, interferon-inducible protein of 10 kDa; I-TAC, interferoninducible T cell a chemoattractant; IL-8, interleukin-8; MIP-1a, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1a; MIP-1b, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1b; MIP-1d, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1d; MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, -2 and -3; Met-RANTES, methionylated RANTES; Mig, monokine-induced by human interferon g; MPIF-1, myeloid progenitor inhibitor factor-1; NAP-2, neutrophil activating peptide-2; RANTES, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted; WGA-SPA, wheat germ agglutinin bead-scintillation proximity assay