Chemoattractant for blood monocytes, memory T-helper cells and eosinophils. Causes the release of histamine from basophils and activates eosinophils. May activate several chemokine receptors including CCR1, CCR3, CCR4 and CCR5. One of the major HIV-suppressive factors produced by CD8+ T-cells. Recombinant RANTES protein induces a dose-dependent inhibition of different strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The processed form RANTES(3-68) acts as a natural chemotaxis inhibitor and is a more potent inhibitor of HIV-1-infection. The second processed form RANTES(4-68) exhibits reduced chemotactic and HIV-suppressive activity compared with RANTES(1-68) and RANTES(3-68) (PubMed:16791620, PubMed:1380064, PubMed:8525373, PubMed:9516414, PubMed:15923218). May also be an agonist of the G protein-coupled receptor GPR75, stimulating inositol trisphosphate production and calcium mobilization through its activation. Together with GPR75, may play a role in neuron survival through activation of a downstream signaling pathway involving the PI3, Akt and MAP kinases. By activating GPR75 may also play a role in insulin secretion by islet cells (PubMed:23979485). Homo and heterooligomers with other chemokines. Interacts with the brown dog tick evasin-4. Expressed in the follicular fluid (at protein level). T-cell and macrophage specific. By mitogens. N-terminal processed form RANTES(3-68) is produced by proteolytic cleavage, probably by DPP4, after secretion from peripheral blood leukocytes and cultured sarcoma cells. N-terminal processed form RANTES(4-68) is produced by proteolytic cleavage by cathepsin CTSG. The identity of the O-linked saccharides at Ser-27 and Ser-28 are not reported in PubMed:1380064. They are assigned by similarity. O-glycosylated. Belongs to the intercrine beta (chemokine CC) family. RANTES entry