Recently, we reported that extracellular ubiquitin functions as another agonist of CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR)4. Whereas the cognate CXCR4 ligand, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α, is also a CXCR7 agonist, ubiquitin does not bind to CXCR7. Because both ligands are present in the extracellular environment, co-activation of CXCR4 appears to be physiologically relevant. CXCR4 mediated effect...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties on a diverse array of immune cell lineages, including regulatory T and B cells (Tregs and Bregs, respectively). However, their specific effects and mechanisms underlying induction of Bregs remain unclear. The immune regulatory function of MSCs is exerted through both cell-cell contact and the release of soluble fa...

The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 form an important axis contributing to cellular functions in homeostasis and disease. In addition, the atypical CXCL12 receptor CXCR7 may shape the availability and function of CXCL12. Further to their role through progenitor cell mobilization, CXCL12 and CXCR4 may affect native atherogenesis by modifying atherosclerosis-relevant cellular functions. T...

The chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) or CXCL12 is constitutively expressed in healthy liver. However, its expression increases following acute or chronic liver injury. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), hepatic stellate cells (HSC), and malignant hepatocytes are important sources of SDF-1/CXCL12 in liver diseases. CXCL12 is able to activate two chemokine receptors with di...

The influence of environmental factors (cytokines, matrix components, serum factors and O(2) level) on expression of receptors for angiogenic versus angiostatic CXC chemokines in human microvascular endothelial cells has not been extensively investigated. Our semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma repressed CXCR4 mRNA levels in immortalized human microvascul...

CXCL12-CXCR4-CXCR7 signaling promotes tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer. Alternative splicing of CXCL12 produces isoforms with distinct structural and biochemical properties, but little is known about isoform-specific differences in breast cancer subtypes and patient outcomes. We investigated global expression profiles of the six CXCL12 isoforms, CXCR4, and CXCR7 in The Cancer Genome...

CXCR3 ligands were secreted by tissue fibroblasts and peripheral blood-derived mononuclear leukocytes in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands. Subsequent purification and identification revealed the presence of truncated CXCL11 variants missing up to 6 amino acids. In combination with CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV, the metalloprotease aminopeptidase N (AP...

INTRODUCTION The chemokine CXCL12 and its receptors CXCR4 and 7 play crucial roles in the immune system. In the present study, regulation of this pathway was further examined using the in-vitro model of undifferentiated human THP-1 monocytes (u-THP-1) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated THP-1 macrophages (d-THP-1), to assess the effects of differentiation and the TLR4 ligan...

Chemokines and its receptors stimulate tumor growth, migration and invasion. In this study we evaluated the expression and function of CXCR3 and CXCR7 receptors in cervical carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and glioblastoma cell lines. We found that both receptors were expressed at different degree by tumor cells. CXCR7 was expressed at both mRNA and protein level by all tumor cell lines. The express...