Expression pattern of CXCR3, CXCR4, and CCR3 chemokine receptors in the developing human brain

ERNEST COST action overview on the (patho)physiology of GPCRs and orphan GPCRs in the nervous system

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a critical role in nervous system function by transmitting signals between cells and their environment. They are involved in many, if not all, nervous system processes, and their dysfunction has been linked to various neurological disorders representing important drug targets. This overview emphasises the GPCRs of the nervous system, which are the research focus of the members of ERNEST COST action (CA18133) working group 'Biological roles of signal transduction'. First, the (patho)physiological role of the nervous system GPCRs in the modulation of synapse function is discussed. We then debate the (patho)physiology and pharmacology of opioid, acetylcholine, chemokine, melatonin and adhesion GPCRs in the nervous system. Finally, we address the orphan GPCRs, their implication in the nervous system function and disease, and the challenges that need to be addressed to deorphanize them.

Immune activity at birth and later psychopathology in childhood

Disruption of neurodevelopmental trajectories can alter brain circuitry and increase the risk of psychopathology later in life. While preclinical studies have demonstrated that the immune system and cytokines influence neurodevelopment, whether immune activity and in particular which cytokines at birth are associated with psychopathology remains poorly explored in children. We used data and biological samples from 869 mother-child pairs participating in the French mother-child cohort EDEN. As proxies for immune activity at birth, we measured the levels of 27 cytokines in umbilical cord blood sera (CBS). We then explored the association between CBS cytokine levels and five psychopathological dimensions assessed in 5-year-old children using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Five cytokines were positively associated with psychopathology: C-X-C motif chemokine Ligand (CXCL)10, interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12p40 with emotional symptoms, C–C motif chemokine Ligand (CCL)11 with conduct problems, and CCL11, and IL-17A with peer relationships problems. In contrast, seven cytokines were negatively associated with psychopathology: IL-7, IL-15 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-β with emotional symptoms, CCL4 and IL-6 with conduct problems, CCL26 and IL-15 with peer relationships problems, and CCL26, IL-7, IL-15, and TNF-α with abnormal prosocial behavior. Without implying causation, these associations support the notion that cytokines influence neurodevelopment in humans and the risk of psychopathology later in life.

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Twelve cytokines at birth are associated with psychopathology in 5-year-old children.

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IL-7, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-15, TNF-β and CXCL10 are associated with emotional symptoms.

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IL-6, CCL4 and CCL11 are associated with conduct problems.

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IL-15, IL-17A, CCL11 and CCL26 are associated with peer relationship problems.

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IL-7, IL-15, TNF-α and CCL26 are associated with prosocial behavior.

5-aminoisoquinolinone attenuates social behavior deficits and immune abnormalities in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model for autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed by core symptoms including impaired social communication and the presence of repetitive and stereotypical behaviors. There is also evidence for immune dysfunction in individuals with ASD, but it is a disease that is still insufficiently controlled by current treatment strategies. The use of 5-aminoisoquinolinone (5-AIQ) ameliorates several immune-mediated symptoms including rheumatoid arthritis and colitis, and has neuroprotective properties; however, its role in ASD is not yet characterized. In this study, we investigated the effect of 5-AIQ on sociability tests, self-grooming, marble burying, and locomotor activities in BTBR T⁺ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, which serve as an ASD animal model. We further investigated the possible molecular mechanism of 5-AIQ administration on CXCR4-, CXCR6-, IFN-γ-, IL-22-, NOS2-, STAT1-, T-bet-, and RORγT-producing CD3⁺ T cells isolated from the spleens of treated mice. We also explored its effects on mRNA expression in brain tissue. Our results showed that in BTBR mice, 5-AIQ treatment significantly prevented self-grooming and marble burying behaviors and enhanced social interactions without any adverse effects on locomotor activity/anxiety level. Additionally, 5-AIQ treatment substantially decreased CXCR4-, CXCR6-, IFN-γ-, IL-22-, NOS2-, STAT1-, T-bet-, and RORγT-producing CD3⁺ T cells in the spleen. Furthermore, 5-AIQ treatment decreased CXCR4, IFN-γ, IL-22, STAT1, and RORγT mRNA expression levels in brain tissue. Our findings demonstrated that 5-AIQ improved behavioral and immune abnormalities associated with ASD, which supports the hypothesis that 5-AIQ has important therapeutic potential for the treatment of behavioral and neuroimmune dysfunctions in ASD.

High-Content Genome-Wide RNAi Screen Reveals CCR3 as a Key Mediator of Neuronal Cell Death

Neuronal loss caused by ischemic injury, trauma, or disease can lead to devastating consequences for the individual. With the goal of limiting neuronal loss, a number of cell death pathways have been studied, but there may be additional contributors to neuronal death that are yet unknown. To identify previously unknown cell death mediators, we performed a high-content genome-wide screening of short, interfering RNA (siRNA) with an siRNA library in murine neural stem cells after exposure to N-methyl-N-nitroso-N'-nitroguanidine (MNNG), which leads to DNA damage and cell death. Eighty genes were identified as key mediators for cell death. Among them, 14 are known cell death mediators and 66 have not previously been linked to cell death pathways. Using an integrated approach with functional and bioinformatics analysis, we provide possible molecular networks, interconnected pathways, and/or protein complexes that may participate in cell death. Of the 66 genes, we selected CCR3 for further evaluation and found that CCR3 is a mediator of neuronal injury. CCR3 inhibition or deletion protects murine cortical cultures from oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced cell death, and CCR3 deletion in mice provides protection from ischemia in vivo. Taken together, our findings suggest that CCR3 is a previously unknown mediator of cell death. Future identification of the neural cell death network in which CCR3 participates will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neural cell death.

Ectopic choroid plexus found in fetal sections: a case report with literature consideration

We incidentally found an ectopic choroid plexus (CP) attached to the posterior side of the cervicothoracic spinal cord (C4-T6) in a 16-week aborted fetus. The cytoarchitecture of the cord and segmental nerves showed normal development. The fourth ventricle did not contain the usual CP but a red blood cell cluster due to hemorrhage, although the cause, whether spontaneous or traumatic, was unknown. The ectopic CP was associated with thick neuroepithelium that was strongly positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, nestin, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, but did not contain any CD34-positive vessels. Thus, the ectopic neuroepithelium seemed not to carry growth factor for vascular development. On the inferior side of the ectopic CP, the lower thoracic cord was wavy, folded, and packed in a limited space as a folding fan. Despite the strange gross appearance, however, we found no abnormality in the dorsal root ganglion, the spinal nerve root, or the cytoarchitecture of the lower thoracic cord. Therefore, the abnormality in the lower thoracic cord seemed to be secondarily induced by trophic factor(s) from the ectopic CP and/or the associated neuroepithelium. This may be the first report on an ectopic CP associated with ectopic neuroepithelium.

Spinal IFN-γ-induced protein-10 (CXCL10) mediates metastatic breast cancer-induced bone pain by activation of microglia in rat models

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is a common clinical problem in breast cancer patients with bone metastasis. Recent studies shows chemokines are novel targets for treatment of CIBP. In this study, we intra-tibial inoculated with Walker 256 rat mammary gland carcinoma cells into rat bone to established metastatic breast cancer. Then we measured the expression of CXCL10 in the spinal cord of metastatic bone cancer rats, investigated the role of CXCL10 in the development of CIBP, and the underlying mechanism. Results revealed that after intra-tibial inoculation with Walker 256 cells, rats showed up-regulation of CXCL10 and its receptor CXCR3 in the spinal cord. Interestingly, intrathecally injection of recombinant CXCL10 protein induced mechanical allodynia in naïve rats. Blocking the function of CXCL10/CXCR3 pathway via anti-CXCL10 antibody or CXCR3 antagonist prevented the development of CIBP and microglial activation. Moreover, CXCL10-induced mechanical allodynia was rescued by minocycline treatment during the late-stage of CIBP, days 10-14. The regulation of CXCL10 expression involved microglial activation in a manner of autocrine positive feedback. These results suggest that CXCL10 may be a necessary algogenic molecule, especially in the development of CIBP. Its function was partly mediated via spinal microglial activation. This study provides a novel insight into the biological function of chemokine CXCL10 in the molecular mechanism underlying cancer pain. It also provides new target for clinical treatment of metastatic breast cancer-induced bone pain in future.

Adult human glia, pericytes and meningeal fibroblasts respond similarly to IFNy but not to TGFβ1 or M-CSF

The chemokine Interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) are widely used indicators of glial activation and neuroinflammation and are up-regulated in many brain disorders. These inflammatory mediators have been widely studied in rodent models of brain disorders, but less work has been undertaken using human brain cells. In this study we investigate the regulation of HLA and IP-10, as well as other cytokines and chemokines, in microglia, astrocytes, pericytes, and meningeal fibroblasts derived from biopsy and autopsy adult human brain, using immunocytochemistry and a Cytometric Bead Array. Interferonγ (IFNγ) increased microglial HLA expression, but contrary to data in rodents, the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) did not inhibit this increase in HLA, nor did TGFβ1 affect basal microglial HLA expression or IFNγ-induced astrocytic HLA expression. In contrast, IFNγ-induced and basal microglial HLA expression, but not IFNγ-induced astrocytic HLA expression, were strongly inhibited by macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). IFNγ also strongly induced HLA expression in pericytes and meningeal fibroblasts, which do not basally express HLA, and this induction was completely blocked by TGFβ1, but not affected by M-CSF. In contrast, TGFβ1 did not block the IFNγ-induced increase in IP-10 in pericytes and meningeal fibroblasts. These results show that IFNγ, TGFβ1 and M-CSF have species- and cell type-specific effects on human brain cells that may have implications for their roles in adult human brain inflammation.

CXCL17 is a mucosal chemokine elevated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that exhibits broad antimicrobial activity

The mucosal immune network is a crucial barrier preventing pathogens from entering the body. The network of immune cells that mediates the defensive mechanisms in the mucosa is likely shaped by chemokines, which attract a wide range of immune cells to specific sites of the body. Chemokines have been divided into homeostatic or inflammatory depending upon their expression patterns. Additionally, several chemokines mediate direct killing of invading pathogens, as exemplified by CCL28, a mucosa-associated chemokine that exhibits antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogens. CXCL17 was the last chemokine ligand to be described and is the 17th member of the CXC chemokine family. Its expression pattern in 105 human tissues and cells indicates that CXCL17 is a homeostatic, mucosa-associated chemokine. Its strategic expression in mucosal tissues suggests that it is involved in innate immunity and/or sterility of the mucosa. To test the latter hypothesis, we tested CXCL17 for possible antibacterial activity against a panel of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. Our results indicate that CXCL17 has potent antimicrobial activities and that its mechanism of antimicrobial action involves peptide-mediated bacterial membrane disruption. Because CXCL17 is strongly expressed in bronchi, we measured it in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and observed that it is strongly upregulated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We conclude that CXCL17 is an antimicrobial mucosal chemokine that may play a role in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung diseases.

Could differential virological characteristics account for ongoing viral replication and insidious damage of the brain during HIV 1 infection of the central nervous system?

Neurocognitive disorders due to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection have been reported in 25-60% of cases,(1-3) despite a sustained viral response in peripheral blood while on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). A possible reason may be that the central nervous system (CNS) is less accessible for anti-retroviral agents, therefore this sanctuary site can provide a reservoir for ongoing HIV-1 replication. Mutations conferring resistance to anti-retroviral drugs may predominate in compartments where drug levels are suboptimal. This review provides an overview on the literature regarding the development of resistance mutations and the sensitivity for co-receptors in CNS. Mutations caused by the anti-retroviral drugs with the lowest intracerebral penetration would be expected to be found in higher percentages in the CNS than in the periphery of the human body. However, few studies have been performed that can confirm or reject this claim. Zidovudine, the anti-retroviral drug with the best intracerebral penetration, has been studied to some extent. This drug indeed induces resistance mutations in blood as well as the CNS. HAART induces a switch from HIV that uses co-receptor CRR5 to HIV that uses co-receptor CXCR4. This switch may appear later in the CNS compartment compared to the periphery. However, current literature shows conflicting evidence. In conclusion, the current understanding of HIV-strain evolution under drug pressure in sanctuary sites like CNS is incomplete. Therefore, more research is needed in order to establish the role of these sites in the development of drug resistant mutants under adequate HAART.

Chemokine CCL18 predicts intraventricular hemorrhage in very preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very preterm infants is a common disease associated with long-term consequences. Risk factors of IVH remain to be further defined.

AIMS

To determine whether specific immunoproteins at birth predict the risk of IVH and whether their receptors are localized at the bleeding site.

METHODS

A prospective cohort consisted of 163 infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. Altogether 107 cord blood immunoproteins and 12 cytokines from peripheral blood obtained 1 and 7 days after birth were analyzed. Serial brain ultrasounds were assessed. Immunohistochemistry of a chemokine receptor from 14 autopsies was studied.

RESULTS

Low levels of cord chemokine CCL18 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18) robustly predicted the risk of IVH grade II-IV when ante- and neonatal risk factors were considered. Cord CCL18 increased from 32 weeks to term. During the first week after very preterm birth CCL18 increased as the risk of new IVH cases decreased. CCL18 receptor, CCR3, was detectable in choroid plexus, periventricular capillary endothelium, ependymal cells, and in germinal matrix.

CONCLUSION

Low cord blood CCL18 is an independent risk factor of IVH. CCL18 may inhibit signal transduction of its receptor in periventricular cells. Defining the function and regulation of CCL18 may help to decrease the risk of IVH.

CCL21-induced calcium transients and proliferation in primary mouse astrocytes: CXCR3-dependent and independent responses

CCL21 is a homeostatic chemokine that is expressed constitutively in secondary lymph nodes and attracts immune cells via chemokine receptor CCR7. In the brain however, CCL21 is inducibly expressed in damaged neurons both in vitro and in vivo and has been shown to activate microglia in vitro, albeit not through CCR7 but through chemokine receptor CXCR3. Therefore, a role for CCL21 in CXCR3-mediated neuron-microglia signaling has been proposed. It is well established that human and mouse astrocytes, like microglia, express CXCR3. However, effects of CCL21 on astrocytes have not been investigated yet. In this study, we have examined the effects of CCL21 on calcium transients and proliferation in primary mouse astrocytes. We show that similar to CXCR3-ligand CXCL10, CCL21 (10(-9) M and 10(-8) M) induced calcium transients in astrocytes, which were mediated through CXCR3. However, in response to high concentrations of CCL21 (10(-7) M) calcium transients persisted in CXCR3-deficient astrocytes, whereas CXCL10 did not have any effect in these cells. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to CXCL10 or CCL21 promoted proliferation of wild type astrocytes. Although CXCL10-induced proliferation was absent in CXCR3-deficient astrocytes, CCL21-induced proliferation of these cells did not significantly differ from wild type conditions. It is therefore suggested that primary mouse astrocytes express an additional (chemokine-) receptor, which is activated at high CCL21 concentrations.

Analysis of CXCR3 and atypical variant expression and signalling in human T lymphocytes

Members of the chemokine (Chemotactic cytokines) superfamily and their receptors play a major role in trafficking of immune cells under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions. The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is expressed mainly on activated T lymphocytes and binds three pro-inflammatory, interferon-gamma-inducible chemokines: monokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig/CXCL9), IFN-gamma-induced protein-10 (IP-10/CXCL10) and IFN-gamma-inducible T-cell alpha-chemoattractant (I-TAC/CXCL11). CXCR3 and its agonists are involved in a variety of inflammatory pathologies, making this receptor an attractive target for the design of new anti-inflammatory drugs. Interestingly, a growing body of evidence suggests the existence of at least two novel variants of CXCR3, namely CXCR3-B and CXCR3-alt, which present challenges in the design of new anti-inflammatory drugs targeting CXCR3. In this chapter, we describe the collection, isolation and activation of human peripheral blood-derived T lymphocytes and methods to examine the expression of CXCR3 and its atypical variants at both mRNA and protein levels, as well as protocols for exploring the biochemical and functional responses of T lymphocytes to all known CXCR3 agonists.

Hypertension in mice lacking the CXCR3 chemokine receptor

The CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) has been linked to autoimmune and inflammatory disease, allograft rejection, and ischemic nephropathy. CXCR3 is expressed on endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Although a recent study posited that antagonizing of CXCR3 function may reduce atherosclerosis, the role of CXCR3 in controlling physiological vascular functions remains unclear. This study demonstrates that disruption of CXCR3 leads to elevated mean arterial pressures in anesthetized and conscious mice, respectively. Stimulation of isolated resistance vessels with various vasoconstrictors showed increased contractibility in CXCR3-/- mice in response to angiotensin II (ANG II) and a decreased vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine (ACh). The increased contractibility was related to higher ANG II type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression, whereas the decreased vasodilatation was related to lower M3-ACh receptor expression in the mesenteric arteries of CXCR3-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. The vasodilatatory response to ACh could be antagonized by the nonselective ACh receptor antagonist atropine and the selective M3 receptor antagonist 4-DAMP, but not by M1, M2, and M4 receptor antagonists. Additionally, EMSA studies revealed that transcription factors SP-1 and EGR-1 interact as a complex with the murine AT1R promoter region. Furthermore, we could show increased expression of SP-1 in CXCR3-/- mice indicating an imbalanced SP-1 and EGR-1 complex formation which causes increased AT1R expression and hypertension. The data indicate that CXCR3 receptor is important in vascular contractility and hypertension, possibly through upregulated AT1R expression.

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is degraded following internalization and is replenished at the cell surface by de novo synthesis of receptor

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is expressed on the surface of both resting and activated T lymphocytes. We describe in this study the endocytosis of CXCR3 using T lymphocytes and CXCR3 transfectants. Chemokine-induced CXCR3 down-regulation occurred in a rapid, dose-dependent manner, with CXCL11 the most potent and efficacious ligand. Endocytosis was mediated in part by arrestins, but appeared to occur independently of clathrin and caveolae. In contrast to other chemokine receptors, which are largely recycled to the cell surface within an hour, cell surface replenishment of CXCR3 occurred over several hours and was dependent upon mRNA transcription, de novo protein synthesis, and transport through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi. Confocal microscopy and Western blotting confirmed the fate of endocytosed CXCR3 to be degradation, mediated in part by lysosomes and proteosomes. Site-directed mutagenesis of the CXCR3 C terminus revealed that internalization and degradation were independent of phosphorylation, ubiquitination, or a conserved LL motif. CXCR3 was found to be efficiently internalized in the absence of ligand, a process involving a YXXL motif at the extreme of the C terminus. Although freshly isolated T lymphocytes expressed moderate cell surface levels of CXCR3, they were only responsive to CXCL11 with CXCL9 and CXCL10 only having significant activity on activated T lymphocytes. Thus, the activities of CXCR3 are tightly controlled following mRNA translation. Because CXCR3(+) cells are themselves a source of IFN-gamma, which potently induces the expression of CXCR3 ligands, such tight regulation of CXCR3 may serve as a control to avoid the unnecessary amplification of activated T lymphocyte recruitment.

Therapeutic neutralization of CXCL10 decreases secondary degeneration and functional deficit after spinal cord injury in mice

Inflammation plays a critical role in the secondary degenerative response to spinal cord injury (SCI). The influx of inflammatory cells following SCI is preceded by the expression of specific chemoattractants, including chemokines. The chemokine CXCL10 is a potent T lymphocyte recruiter and has been strongly implicated in the pathology of many CNS disorders. We have previously demonstrated that CXCL10 exacerbates secondary degeneration by blocking the function of CXCL10 prior to SCI. Here we administered neutralizing antibodies against CXCL10 1 h after SCI in order to investigate the efficacy of this therapeutic intervention in abating histologic and functional deficit following acute SCI and further assess the functional role of CXCL10 in secondary degeneration. Neutralization of CXCL10 significantly reduced inflammation, apoptosis, neuronal loss and whole tissue loss. Notably, this therapeutic treatment also promoted revascularization of the injured spinal cord and functional recovery. These data suggest that anti-CXCL10 antibody treatment is a viable therapeutic strategy for acute SCI.

Role of chemokines in endocrine autoimmune diseases

Chemokines are a group of peptides of low molecular weight that induce the chemotaxis of different leukocyte subtypes. The major function of chemokines is the recruitment of leukocytes to inflammation sites, but they also play a role in tumoral growth, angiogenesis, and organ sclerosis. In the last few years, experimental evidence accumulated supporting the concept that interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) inducible chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11) and their receptor, CXCR3, play an important role in the initial stage of autoimmune disorders involving endocrine glands. The fact that, after IFN-gamma stimulation, endocrine epithelial cells secrete CXCL10, which in turn recruits type 1 T helper lymphocytes expressing CXCR3 and secreting IFN-gamma, thus perpetuating autoimmune inflammation, strongly supports the concept that chemokines play an important role in endocrine autoimmunity. This article reviews the recent literature including basic science, animal models, and clinical studies, regarding the role of these chemokines in autoimmune endocrine diseases. The potential clinical applications of assaying the serum levels of CXCL10 and the value of such measurements are reviewed. Clinical studies addressing the issue of a role for serum CXCL10 measurement in Graves' disease, Graves' ophthalmopathy, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and Addison's disease have been considered. The principal aim was to propose that chemokines, and in particular CXCL10, should no longer be considered as belonging exclusively to basic science, but rather should be used for providing new insights in the clinical management of patients with endocrine autoimmune diseases.

Neuronal chemokines: versatile messengers in central nervous system cell interaction

Whereas chemokines are well known for their ability to induce cell migration, only recently it became evident that chemokines also control a variety of other cell functions and are versatile messengers in the interaction between a diversity of cell types. In the central nervous system (CNS), chemokines are generally found under both physiological and pathological conditions. Whereas many reports describe chemokine expression in astrocytes and microglia and their role in the migration of leukocytes into the CNS, only few studies describe chemokine expression in neurons. Nevertheless, the expression of neuronal chemokines and the corresponding chemokine receptors in CNS cells under physiological and pathological conditions indicates that neuronal chemokines contribute to CNS cell interaction. In this study, we review recent studies describing neuronal chemokine expression and discuss potential roles of neuronal chemokines in neuron-astrocyte, neuron-microglia, and neuron-neuron interaction.

Chemokine receptors in the central nervous system: role in brain inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases

Chemokines were originally described as chemotactic cytokines involved in leukocyte trafficking. Research over the last decade, however, has shown that chemokine receptors are not restricted to leukocytes. In the brain, chemokine receptors are not only found in microglia (a brain macrophage), but also in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons. In this review, we describe the spatial and cellular distribution of chemokine receptors in the brain, distinguishing between constitutively and inducibly expressed receptors. We then discuss possible physiological functions, including neuronal migration, cell proliferation and synaptic activity. Evidence is emerging that chemokine receptors are also involved in neuronal death and hence neurodegenerative diseases. Chemokines may induce neuronal death either indirectly (e.g. through activation of microglia killing mechanisms) or directly through activation of neuronal chemokine receptors. Disease processes in which chemokines and their receptors are likely to be involved include multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), HIV-associated dementia (HAD) and cerebral ischemic disease. The study of chemokines and their receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) is not only relevant for the understanding of brain physiology and pathophysiology, but may also lead to the development of targeted treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Development of neuronal sensitivity to toxins in cerebrospinal fluid from HIV-type 1-infected individuals

HIV infection of the immature nervous system generally results in a rapid progression of neurological disease that cannot easily be explained by the severity of encephalitis, viral burden, systemic immune deficiency, or developmental changes in utero. Rather than the viral infection dictating disease progression, we explored the possibility that immature neurons might be particularly sensitive to toxins secreted in response to HIV. Primary cultures of rat cortical neurons were exposed to toxic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from HIV-infected individuals (CSF(tox)) and evaluated for changes in intracellular calcium and cell death. CSF(tox) had no detectable effect on early neurite outgrowth, calcium regulation, or cell death during the first few days in culture. Starting at Day 4, delayed increases in intracellular calcium appeared in response to CSF(tox). The magnitude of the delayed calcium rise and cell death increased with the age of the culture and correlated with the appearance of synaptophysin immunoreactive varicosities. A similar gradual development of sensitivity was seen during exposure of feline neurons to toxins generated by choroid plexus macrophages after exposure to feline immunodeficiency virus. The possibility that toxin sensitivity is dependent on the presence of synaptic activity is consistent with the rapid pathogenesis in the CNS seen during the first postnatal year. Emerging synaptic activity coupled with other factors such as high metabolic demand in the young nervous system may combine to increase the likelihood of calcium overload and neuronal dysfunction in response to HIV-associated toxins.

Identification of genes differentially expressed in T cells following stimulation with the chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL10

BACKGROUND

Chemokines are involved in many biological activities ranging from leukocyte differentiation to neuronal morphogenesis. Despite numerous reports describing chemokine function, little is known about the molecular changes induced by cytokines.

METHODS

We have isolated and identified by differential display analysis 182 differentially expressed cDNAs from CXCR3-transfected Jurkat T cells following treatment with CXCL12 or CXCL10. These chemokine-modulated genes were further verified using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-six of the cDNAs were successfully cloned, sequenced, and identified by BLAST. Following removal of redundant and non-informative clones, seventeen mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed post treatment with either chemokine ligand with several representing known genes with established functions. Twenty-one genes were upregulated in these transfected Jurkat cells following both CXCL12 and CXCL10, four genes displayed a discordant response and seven genes were downregulated upon treatment with either chemokine. Identified genes include geminin (GEM), thioredoxin (TXN), DEAD/H box polypeptide 1 (DDX1), growth hormone inducible transmembrane protein (GHITM), and transcription elongation regulator 1 (TCERG1). Subsequent analysis of several of these genes using semi-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis confirmed their differential expression post ligand treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these results provide insight into chemokine-induced gene activation and identify potentially novel functions for known genes in chemokine biology.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 regulates cell-cycle proteins in neurons

Neurons express a variety of chemokine receptors that regulate neuronal signaling and survival, including CXCR4 and CCR5, the two major human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coreceptors. However, the role of chemokine receptors in HIV neuropathology and neuroinflammatory disorders is still unclear. This study aims to determine whether chemokine receptors regulate the activity of cell-cycle proteins in neurons and evaluate the possibility that alterations of these proteins are involved in HIV neuropathogenesis. The authors studied the effect of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha, the natural CXCR4 ligand, and an X4-using variant of gp120 on the activity of cell-cycle proteins involved in neuronal apoptosis and differentiation, such as Rb and E2F-1. Changes in expression, localization, and phosphorylation/activation of Rb and E2F-1 induced by SDF-1alpha (20 nM) gp120(IIIB) (200 pM) were analyzed in primary cultures of rat neurons and in a human cell line expressing recombinant CXCR4. The data indicate that changes in the nuclear and cytosolic levels of Rb--which result in the functional loss of this protein--are associated with apoptosis in hippocampal or cerebellar granule neurons and in cell lines. SDF-1alpha, which is able to rescue these neurons from apoptosis, induces a time-dependent increase of total Rb expression while decreasing the nuclear content of phosphorylated (Ser780/Ser795) Rb and the transcriptional activity of E2F-1. The HIV envelope protein gp120(IIIB) exerts opposite effects at the nuclear level. These data indicate that CXCR4 affects cell-cycle proteins in neurons and raise the possibility that chemokines may contribute to neuronal survival by repressing the activity of E2F-dependent apoptotic genes and maintaining neurons in a highly differentiated and quiescent state. This state may be altered during neuroinflammatory conditions and/or by HIV-derived proteins.

Role of chemokines in angiogenesis: CXCL12/SDF-1 and CXCR4 interaction, a key regulator of endothelial cell responses

Chemokines are small proteins that act as cell attractants via the activation of G protein-coupled receptors. Chemokines play an important role in several pathophysiological processes such as inflammation and immunity. Many proinflammatory chemokines also support the development of vascular blood supply at the site of inflammation. Similarly, tumor-generated chemokines can contribute to tumor growth by promoting angiogenesis. Recently, significant advances have been made in understanding the contribution of chemokines to the angiogenesis process. This review will discuss first the evidence supporting the direct contribution of different chemokine subfamily members, including CC, CXC, and CX3C chemokines, as positive or negative regulators of the angiogenesis process based on the expression of their cognate receptors on endothelial cells. Additionally, the relationship between classic angiogenic factors and chemokine receptor expression on endothelial cells, and the implications of chemokine production by cancer cells will be analyzed with particular emphasis on the CXCL12/stromal-cell derived factor-1 interaction with CXCR4.

Expression pattern of CXC chemokine receptor-4 is correlated with lymph node metastasis in human invasive ductal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The stromal cell-derived factor-1/CXC chemokine receptor-4 (SDF-1/CXCR4) signal has been shown to be important in various immunological reactions. Recent studies have suggested that CXCR4 is expressed in certain cancer cells and that they use this chemokine receptor efficiently for metastasis formation.

METHOD

The expression of CXCR4 was evaluated by immunohistochemical study in 79 surgically resected invasive ductal carcinomas, and the relation between the staining pattern and clinicopathological features was examined.

RESULTS

CXCR4 was diffusely and homogeneously expressed in 59 cancers, which were further divided into 28 high-expression and 31 low-expression cancers by their staining intensity. The other 20 cancers showed heterogeneous immunoreactivity in tumor tissue, which was defined as focal type. In comparison with the diffuse type, focal type tumors showed significantly more extensive lymph node metastasis, because the number and extent of metastatic nodes were larger in the focal than the diffuse type. In the diffuse type, the rate of node-positive cases did not show a difference in staining intensity. However, high-CXCR4 tumors showed more extensive nodal metastasis in comparison with low-expression tumors. In contrast, the expression pattern of CXCR4 did not have a significant correlation with hematogeneous metastasis. The overall survival of these patients tended to be better in the diffuse type than in the focal type, although the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The expression pattern of CXCR4 was significantly correlated with the degree of lymph node metastasis in breast cancers. Our data suggest that CXCR4 might be particularly important in facilitating metastasis through the lymphatic system.

CXC chemokine receptors in the central nervous system: Role in cerebellar neuromodulation and development

Chemokines and their receptors are constitutively present in the central nervous system (CNS), expressed in neurons and glial cells. Much evidence suggests that, beyond their involvement in neuroinflammation, these proteins play a role in neurodevelopment and neurophysiological signaling. The goal of this review is to summarize recent information concerning expression, signaling, and function of CXC chemokine receptor in the CNS, with the main focus on the developmental and neuromodulatory actions of chemokines in the cerebellum.

Functional expression of CXCR3 in cultured mouse and human astrocytes and microglia

It has been established recently that inflammation of the CNS is accompanied by an expression of chemokines within the CNS. Several lines of evidence suggest that chemokines within the CNS initiate and orchestrate the infiltration of the inflamed brain by blood leukocytes. It is also known that endogenous cells of the CNS express functional chemokine receptors, raising the possibility that chemokines may be involved in intercellular signalling between brain cells during brain inflammation. It was shown recently that two chemokine ligands for CXCR3 are induced rapidly in damaged neurons. Little is known yet on the function of neuronal chemokine expression. In order to investigate whether neuronal chemokines contribute to endogenous signalling within the CNS we investigated possible expression of CXCR3 in glial cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction experiments and in situ hybridization analysis showed that cultured astrocytes and microglia from both mouse and human sources express CXCR3 mRNA. Protein expression of CXCR3 in both cell types was detected by immunocytochemistry. Moreover, stimulation of cultured glial cells with chemokine ligands for CXCR3 induced intracellular calcium transients and chemotaxis, indicating the functional expression of CXCR3. These results indicate that glial cells in culture functionally express the chemokine receptor CXCR3. Since it has been shown that brain damage rapidly induces expression of neuronal chemokines that activate CXCR3, we suggest that glial CXCR3 might contribute to an intercellular signalling system in the CNS related to pathological conditions.

Developmental expression patterns of CCR5 and CXCR4 in the rhesus macaque brain

Emerging data indicate that chemokine receptors on neurons and glia in the central nervous system (CNS) play a role in normal CNS development, intercellular communication, and the neuropathogenesis of AIDS. To further understand chemokine receptors in the brain and explore their potential role in HIV neuropathogenesis, particularly in pediatrics, we examined the regional and cellular distribution of CCR5 and CXCR4 in normal fetal, neonatal, and adult rhesus macaques. CCR5 and CXCR4 were detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence within the cytoplasm of subpopulations of neurons in the neocortex, hippocampus, basal nuclei, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum and by flow cytometry on the surface of neurons and glia. Interestingly, expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 increased significantly (p<0.05) from birth to 9 months of age. We further characterize this dynamic developmental pattern of CCR5 and CXCR4 expression in resident cells of the CNS.

Immunohistochemical analysis of CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4 in the human brain: potential mechanisms for HIV dementia

The CXC chemokine receptor CXCR4 was the first molecule identified as a coreceptor working in conjunction with CD4 to mediate cellular entry for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Since that original discovery, 11 other seven-mtransmembrane domain molecules, many of which are chemokine receptors, have been shown to facilitate HIV entry into cells. These include CCR5, CCR3, CCR2, CCR1, CCR8, CX3CR1, STRL33 (BONZO), GPR15 (BOB), GPR1, US28, and APJ. In studies done by this and other labs, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4 have been identified in CNS microglia and several laboratories, including ours, have shown that CXCR4 is expressed in neurons. Neuronal expression of CCR2, CCR3, and CCR5 has been less consistent. We performed a semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4 in 23 regions of the brain and in two sections of the spinal cord. Hippocampal neurons were positive for CCR2, CCR3, and CXCR4, but not for CCR5. In other regions of the brain, neurons, and glial cells reacted with anti-CCR2, anti-CCR3, and anti-CXCR4 antibodies, whereas only glial cells (primarily microglia) were positive for CCR5. The areas of highest expression, however, seem to be subcortical regions and the limbic system. The limbic system plays a key role in memory, and the presence of CXCR4-which can bind the viral envelope protein gp120-min a subset of neurons from this system may play a role in the development of HIV-related dementia.