Inhibition of CXCR7 extends survival following irradiation of brain tumours in mice and rats.

BACKGROUND: In experimental models of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), irradiation (IR) induces local expression of the chemokine CXCL12/SDF-1, which promotes tumour recurrence. The role of CXCR7, the high-affinity receptor for CXCL12, in the tumour's response to IR has not been addressed. METHODS: We tested CXCR7 inhibitors for their effects on tumour growth and/or animal survival post IR in three rodent GBM models. We used immunohistochemistry to determine where CXCR7 protein is expressed in the tumours and in human GBM samples. We used neurosphere formation assays with human GBM xenografts to determine whether CXCR7 is required for cancer stem cell (CSC) activity in vitro. RESULTS: CXCR7 was detected on tumour cells and/or tumour-associated vasculature in the rodent models and in human GBM. In human GBM, CXCR7 expression increased with glioma grade and was spatially associated with CXCL12 and CXCL11/I-TAC. In the rodent GBM models, pharmacological inhibition of CXCR7 post IR caused tumour regression, blocked tumour recurrence, and/or substantially prolonged survival. CXCR7 expression levels on human GBM xenograft cells correlated with neurosphere-forming activity, and a CXCR7 inhibitor blocked sphere formation by sorted CSCs. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CXCR7 inhibitors could block GBM tumour recurrence after IR, perhaps by interfering with CSCs.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of the novel CCR1 antagonist CCX354 in healthy human subjects: implications for selection of clinical dose.

The safety and pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of the novel CCR1 antagonist CCX354 was evaluated in double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-dose phase I studies (1-300 mg/day oral doses). CCX354 was well tolerated and displayed a linear dose-exposure profile, with half-life approaching 7 h at the 300-mg dose. The extent of CCR1 receptor blockade on blood monocytes, which correlated well with plasma concentrations of the drug, was assessed using fluorescently labeled CCL3 binding in whole blood from phase I subjects. High levels of receptor coverage at the 12-h time point were achieved after a single dose of 100 mg CCX354. Preclinical studies indicate that effective blockade of inflammatory cell infiltration into tissues requires ≥90% CCR1 inhibition on blood leukocytes at all times. The comparison of the properties of CCX354 with those published for other CCR1 antagonists has informed the dose selection for ongoing clinical development of CCX354 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Characterization of the rhesus cytomegalovirus US28 locus.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) US28 (and the related open reading frame [ORF] US27) are G-protein-coupled receptor homologs believed to play a role in viral pathogenesis. In vitro, US28 has been shown to bind and internalize ligands, as well as activate intracellular signaling in response to certain chemokines, and to initiate the migration of smooth muscle cells to chemokine gradients. To assess the role of US28 in vivo, we examined the rhesus model and sequenced and characterized the rhesus CMV US28 locus. We found that rhesus CMV carries five tandem homologs of US28, all widely divergent from US28 and from each other. By reverse transcription-PCR and Northern analysis, we demonstrated expression of these ORFs in infected cells. With stable cell lines expressing these ORFs, we analyzed the homolog's binding and signaling characteristics across a wide range of chemokines and found one (RhUS28.5) to have a ligand binding profile similar to that of US28. In addition, we localized US28 and the rhesus CMV homolog RhUS28.5 to the envelope of infectious virions, suggesting a role in viral entry or cell tropism.

Chemokines and myeloid cell recruitment.

Chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions mediate constitutive leukocyte trafficking and leukocyte recruitment to sites of infection and inflammation. We suggest that a multiplicity of leukocyte chemoattractants exists to increase the selectivity of leukocyte recruitment in a range of physiological and pathological settings.

Cutting edge: identification of a novel chemokine receptor that binds dendritic cell- and T cell-active chemokines including ELC, SLC, and TECK.

Searching for new receptors of dendritic cell- and T cell-active chemokines, we used a combination of techniques to interrogate orphan chemokine receptors. We report here on human CCX CKR, previously represented only by noncontiguous expressed sequence tags homologous to bovine PPR1, a putative gustatory receptor. We employed a two-tiered process of ligand assignment, where immobilized chemokines constructed on stalks (stalkokines) were used as bait for adhesion of cells expressing CCX CKR. These cells adhered to stalkokines representing ELC, a chemokine previously thought to bind only CCR7. Adhesion was abolished in the presence of soluble ELC, SLC (CCR7 ligands), and TECK (a CCR9 ligand). Complete ligand profiles were further determined by radiolabeled ligand binding and competition with >80 chemokines. ELC, SLC, and TECK comprised high affinity ligands (IC50 <15 nM); lower affinity ligands include BLC and vMIP-II (IC50 <150 nM). With its high affinity for CC chemokines and homology to CC receptors, we provisionally designate this new receptor CCR10.

Neuronal fractalkine expression in HIV-1 encephalitis: roles for macrophage recruitment and neuroprotection in the central nervous system.

HIV-1 infection of the brain results in chronic inflammation, contributing to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 associated neurologic disease. HIV-1-infected mononuclear phagocytes (MP) present in inflammatory infiltrates produce neurotoxins that mediate inflammation, dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis. Neurologic disease is correlated with the relative number of MP in and around inflammatory infiltrates and not viral burden. It is unclear whether these cells also play a neuroprotective role. We show that the chemokine, fractalkine (FKN), is markedly up-regulated in neurons and neuropil in brain tissue from pediatric patients with HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) compared with those without HIVE, or that were HIV-1 seronegative. FKN receptors are expressed on both neurons and microglia in patients with HIVE. These receptors are localized to cytoplasmic structures which are characterized by a vesicular appearance in neurons which may be in cell-to-cell contact with MPs. FKN colocalizes with glutamate in these neurons. Similar findings are observed in brain tissue from an adult patient with HIVE. FKN is able to potently induce the migration of primary human monocytes across an endothelial cell/primary human fetal astrocyte trans-well bilayer, and is neuroprotective to cultured neurons when coadministered with either the HIV-1 neurotoxin platelet activating factor (PAF) or the regulatory HIV-1 gene product Tat. Thus focal inflammation in brain tissue with HIVE may up-regulate neuronal FKN levels, which in turn may be a neuroimmune modulator recruiting peripheral macrophages into the brain, and in a paracrine fashion protecting glutamatergic neurons.

Cytomegalovirus-encoded beta chemokine promotes monocyte-associated viremia in the host.

Chemokine homologs are encoded by many large DNA viruses, suggesting that they contribute to control of host leukocyte transmigration and trafficking during viral infection. Murine cytomegalovirus carries a CC (beta) chemokine homolog gene giving rise to two related proteins, murine cytomegalovirus chemokine 1 and 2 (MCK-1 and MCK-2). MCK-1 peptide was found to induce calcium signaling and adherence in murine peritoneal macrophages. Cells bearing human chemokine receptor CCR3 and the human macrophage THP1 cell line were responsive to MCK-1. This pattern suggested that MCK-1 might act as an agonist, promoting leukocyte trafficking during viral infection. Consistent with this prediction, MCK-1/MCK-2 mutant viruses exhibit dramatically reduced peak levels of monocyte-associated viremia in experimentally infected mice. Thus, MCK-1/MCK-2 appears to promote host leukocyte migration to initial sites of infection and may be responsible for attracting monocytes or macrophages that efficiently disseminate virus in the host.

Cytomegalovirus encodes a potent alpha chemokine.

Cytomegalovirus is a widespread opportunistic pathogen affecting immunocompromised individuals in whom neutrophils may mediate virus dissemination and contribute to progression of disease. Recent sequence analysis suggests that genes absent or altered in attenuated strains may influence pathogenesis. We have found two genes, UL146 and UL147, whose products have sequence similarity to alpha (CXC) chemokines. UL146 encodes a protein, designated vCXC-1, that is a 117-aa glycoprotein secreted into the culture medium as a late gene product, where its presence correlates with the ability to attract human neutrophils. Recombinant vCXC-1 is a fully functional chemokine, inducing calcium mobilization, chemotaxis, and degranulation of neutrophils. High-affinity vCXC-1 binding is shown to be mediated via CXCR2, but not CXCR1. vCXC-1 exhibits a potency approaching that of human IL-8. As the first example of a virus-encoded alpha chemokine, vCXC-1 may ensure the active recruitment of neutrophils during cytomegalovirus infection, thereby providing for efficient dissemination during acute infection and accounting for the prominence of this leukocyte subset in cytomegalovirus disease.

HHV8-encoded vMIP-I selectively engages chemokine receptor CCR8. Agonist and antagonist profiles of viral chemokines.

Uncertainty regarding viral chemokine function is mirrored by an incomplete knowledge of host chemokine receptor usage by the virally encoded proteins. One such molecule is vMIP-I, a C-C type chemokine of undefined function and binding specificity, encoded by the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus HHV-8. We report here that vMIP-I binds to and induces cytosolic [Ca(2+)] signals in human T cells selectively through CCR8, a CC chemokine receptor associated with Th2 lymphocytes. Furthermore, using a panel of 65 different human, viral, and rodent chemokines, we have established a comprehensive ligand binding "fingerprint" for CCR8. The receptor exhibits marked "high" affinity (K(d) < 15 nM) only for four chemokines, three of them of viral origin: vMIP-I, vMIP-II, vMCC-I, and human I-309. A previously unreported second class of lower affinity ligands includes MCP-3 and possibly two other viral chemokines. vMIP-I and I-309 appear to act as CCR8 agonists: binding to and inducing cytosolic [Ca(2+)] elevation through the receptor. By contrast, vMIP-II and vMCC-I act as potent antagonists: binding without inducing signaling, and blocking the effects of I-309 and vMIP-I. These results suggest a ligand hierarchy for CCR8, identifying vMIP-I as a selective viral chemokine agonist. CCR8 may thus engage a specific subset of chemokines with the potential to regulate each other during viral infection and immune regulation.

Human thymocytes express CCR-3 and are activated by eotaxin.

Eotaxin has been characterized as a chemokine involved in eosinophil activation; however, mRNA for this C-C chemokine has been shown to be constitutively expressed in thymus. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a punctate distribution pattern, with eotaxin expression localized mainly in the medulla and in Hassle's corpuscles. Moreover, the receptor for eotaxin, CCR-3, was detected on thymocytes, with the highest level of expression being on the CD8 single-positive population. Equilibrium binding analyses on unfractionated thymocytes demonstrated specific 125I-eotaxin binding profiles comparable with CCR-3 transfectants. Eotaxin induced cell migration and mobilization of intracellular calcium in all thymocytes except the immature CD4(-)/CD8(-) population. Eotaxin also induced the secretion of the chemokines interleukin-8, RANTES, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta from thymocyte cultures in vitro. These results suggest that eotaxin-induced thymocyte activation may have important physiological implications for lymphocyte mobilization within and from this lymphoid organ.

Upregulation of RANTES in psoriatic keratinocytes: a possible pathogenic mechanism for psoriasis.

Intraepidermal collections of neutrophils and lymphocytes are unique features of the inflammatory reaction of psoriasis. Migration of leukocytes from dermis to the epidermis suggests a role for chemotactic agent(s). In recent years, increased levels of chemokines such as IL-8 , GRO-a and MCP-1 have been reported in the keratinocytes of psoriatic tissue. IL-8 and GRO-alpha belong to a subfamily (C x C) class and MCP-1 is a beta chemokine. In this study, we investigated RANTES, which is a beta chemokine (C-C class); RANTES has been found to be associated with various cell-mediated hypersensitive disorders. We obtained eight skin biopsies from chronic psoriatic plaques, and five biopsies each from non-lesional psoriatic skin, lichen planus, eczematous dermatitis and skin from healthy controls. Snap-frozen samples were cut into 7 microm cryosections and stained with 6 mg/ml of monoclonal anti-RANTES mouse IgG (DNAX, Palo Alto, CA). Standard immunohistochemistry techniques were applied. RANTES was detected only in the keratinocytes. The number of keratinocytes in per mm2 of epidermis stained for RANTES were 116.79+/-98.42 in psoriatic tissues compared to 32.00+/-46.05 (p<0.05), 6.39+/-3.59 (p<0.01), 2.64 +/-1.15 (p<0.01) and 3.53+/-5.26 (p<0.01), respectively, in the non-lesional, lichen planus, eczematous lesions and normal skin. This is the first study to report that the keratinocytes of psoriatic tissue express high levels of RANTES compared to the controls. IL-8 and related molecules (C x C class) are predominantly chemotactic for neutrophils and MCP-1 is a strong chemotactic factor for monocytes. In contrast, RANTES is chemotactic for memory T cells and activated naive T cells. Increased amounts of RANTES as reported here provide an explanation for migration of the activated T cells to the epidermis of the psoriatic lesions. In addition, RANTES activates T cells. These results suggest that RANTES may have a significant role in the inflammatory process of psoriasis. Our findings further substantiate a regulatory role for keratinocytes in the inflammatory process of psoriasis.

Neuronal expression of fractalkine in the presence and absence of inflammation.

Fractalkine is the only as yet known member of a novel class of chemokines. Besides its novel Cys-X-X-X-Cys motif, fractalkine exhibits features which have not been described for any other member of the chemokine family, including its unusual size (397 amino acids human, 395 mouse) and the possession of a transmembrane anchor, from which a soluble form may be released by extracellular cleavage. This report demonstrates the abundant mRNA and fractalkine protein expression in neuronal cells. The neuronal expression of fractalkine mRNA is unaffected by experimentally induced inflammation of central nervous tissue.

CXCR4 and CCR5 expression delineates targets for HIV-1 disruption of T cell differentiation.

HIV-1 disease is often associated with CD4+ T lymphopenia as well as quantitative reductions in naive CD8+ T cells and cytopenias involving nonlymphoid hemopoietic lineages. Studies in HIV-1-infected humans as well as in animal models of lenti-virus disease indicate that these effects may be secondary to infection and destruction of multilineage and lineage-restricted hemopoietic progenitor cells. To define the stages of T cell differentiation that might be susceptible to HIV-1, we performed flow cytometric analysis of the surface expression of CXCR4 and CCR5 on T cells and their progenitors from fetal tissue, cord blood, SCID-hu Thy/Liv mice, and adult peripheral blood. We found that CXCR4 is expressed at low levels on hemopoietic progenitors in the bone marrow, is highly expressed on immature (CD3-CD4+CD8-) T cell progenitors in the thymus, and then is down-regulated during thymocyte differentiation. As thymocytes leave the thymus and enter the peripheral circulation, the expression of CXCR4 is again up-regulated. In contrast, CCR5 is undetectable on most hemopoietic progenitors in the bone marrow and on intrathymic T progenitor cells. It is up-regulated when thymocytes coexpress CD4 and CD8, then down-regulated either in the thymus (CD4+ cells) or during exit from the thymus (CD8+ cells). These results indicate that discrete, lineage-related populations of T cell progenitors may vary widely in their potential to respond to chemokines and to be infected by HIV-1, and that T lymphoid differentiation is particularly vulnerable to CXCR4-using viruses.

Functional analysis of the human cytomegalovirus US28 gene by insertion mutagenesis with the green fluorescent protein gene.

The protein encoded by the US28 gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has homology to G protein-coupled receptors (GCR). Previous studies demonstrated that recombinant US28 protein can bind the beta class of chemokines (K. Neote, D. DiGregorio, J. Y. Mak, R. Horuk, and T. J. Schall, Cell 72:415-425, 1993) and induce a rise in intracellular calcium after the binding of chemokines (J. L. Gao and P. M. Murphy, J. Biol. Chem. 269:28539-28542, 1994). In order to investigate the function of the US28 protein in virus-infected cells, a recombinant HCMV (HV5.8) was constructed, with the US28 open reading frame disrupted by the insertion of the Escherichia coli gpt gene and the gene for the green fluorescent protein. The US28 gene is not required for growth in human fibroblasts (HF). HF infected with wild-type HCMV bound RANTES at 24 h postinfection and demonstrated an intracellular calcium flux induced by RANTES. In cells infected with HV5.8, RANTES did not bind or induce a calcium flux, demonstrating that US28 is responsible for the beta-chemokine binding and induced calcium signaling in HCMV-infected cells. The ability of the US28 gene to bind chemokines was shown to cause a significant reduction in the concentration of RANTES in the medium of infected cells. Northern analysis of RNA from infected cells showed that US28 is an early gene, while US27 (another GCR) is a late gene.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of human MIP-1 delta, a new C-C chemokine related to mouse CCF-18 and C10.

We have isolated a novel human C-C chemokine, MIP-1 delta from a human fetal spleen cDNA library. The human MIP-1 delta cDNA has an unusually long 400-bp 5-prime untranslated region and a predicted 113-amino acid protein of 10 kDa. The coding sequence contains a signal peptide of 21 amino acids, indicating that the mature protein has 92 amino acids (8 kDa). Recombinant human MIP-1 delta produced by transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells produced an 8-kDa protein, which confirmed the presence of a signal peptide. Compared with other human C-C chemokines, human MIP-1 delta shows the highest homology with human HCC-1, CK beta-8, murine C10, and CCF18 (MIP-1 gamma). The human MIP-1 delta gene is localized on chromosome 17 where most of the C-C chemokine superfamily is located. Human MIP-1 delta is expressed in T and B lymphocytes, NK cells, monocytes, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, but not in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Its expression can be induced by other proinflammatory cytokines in monocytes and dendritic cells. Human MIP-1 delta is chemotactic for T cells and monocytes, but not for neutrophils, eosinophils, or B cells. Human MIP-1 delta induced calcium flux in human CCR1-transfected cells.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta induces migration and activation of human thymocytes.

The CC chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 1beta (MIP-1beta), has been shown to be a chemoattractant preferentially activating CD4(+) CD45RA+ T lymphocytes. Further analysis of chemokine action on lymphocytic cells has shown the potent migration-promoting capacity of MIP-1beta on human thymocytes. The responding cells were the CD4(+) and CD8(+) single-positive (SP), as well as the CD4(+) CD8(+) double-positive (DP) populations, with little if any migratory activity on the double-negative (DN) population. The activation of thymocytes by MIP-1beta appeared to be a direct, receptor-mediated event as evidenced by the rapid mobilization of intracellular calcium, increase in proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Radioligand binding analyses showed specific and displaceable binding of MIP-1beta to thymocytes with a Kd of approximately 1 nmol/L, a profile that was comparable with MIP-1beta binding to CCR-5-transfected NIH 3T3 cells. In addition, CCR-5 mRNA was detected in total thymocyte populations indicating that activation of thymocytes by MIP-1beta may occur through binding to CCR-5. Further dissection of the subpopulations showed that only the DP and CD8(+) SP populations expressed CCR-5 and expression data on these two populations was confirmed using anti-CCR-5 monoclonal antibody. These data may be suggestive of a role for MIP-1beta in human thymocyte activation, and show a potential route for HIV infectivity in the developing immune system.

RANTES-induced T cell activation correlates with CD3 expression.

The chemokine RANTES induces a unique biphasic cytoplasmic Ca2+ signal in T cells. The first phase of this signal, similar to that of other chemokines, is G-protein mediated and chemotaxis associated. The second phase of this signal, unique to RANTES and evident at concentrations greater than 100 nM, is tyrosine kinase linked and results in a spectrum of responses similar to those seen with antigenic stimulation of T cells. We show here that certain jurkat T cells responded to RANTES solely through this latter pathway. A direct correlation between the RANTES-induced second phase response and CD3 expression was demonstrated in these cells. Sorting the Jurkat cells into CD3(high) and CD3(low) populations revealed that only the CD3(high) cells were responsive to RANTES. Furthermore, stimulation of these Jurkat cells with anti-CD3 mAb significantly depresses their subsequent response to RANTES. While a RANTES-specific chemokine receptor is expressed at a low level on these Jurkat cells, the RANTES-induced activation is dependent on the presence of the TCR. Thus, stimulation through TCR may partially account for RANTES' unique pattern of signaling in T cells.

Primary sensory neurons migrate in response to the chemokine RANTES.

We examined the potential for the C-C chemokine RANTES to stimulate dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cell migration. Embryonic day 12 (E12.5) mouse DRG cells migrated in response to RANTES, in vitro, differentiating to the nociceptive phenotype within 18 h. In addition, RANTES stimulated intracellular calcium mobilization in DRG cells. RANTES expression was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction analysis to be present in E10.5 limb bud, E12.5 DRG, Schwann cells, spinal cord and skin. RANTES protein was detected immunohistochemically in E12.5 DRG and the cutaneous layers of the developing hind limb. Thus, RANTES expression is spatially and temporally consistent with an effector molecule in sensory neuropoiesis, potentially expanding the role of this chemokine to include neurotropism.

RANTES activation of phospholipase D in Jurkat T cells: requirement of GTP-binding proteins ARF and RhoA.

The chemokine RANTES is a potent agonist of T cell activation. In an investigation of signal-transduction events activated by this chemokine, we have shown that RANTES stimulates dose-dependent phospholipase D (PLD) activity in Jurkat cells. Equilibrium-binding analyses using 125I-labeled RANTES indicated the presence of a receptor for RANTES on these cells, which has a Kd of 0.1 nM, is expressed at approximately 600 sites per cell, and a binding specificity that was not comparable with that of any of the known chemokine receptors, since 125I-labeled RANTES was displaced by macrophage-inflammatory protein-1 beta (but not macrophage-inflammatory protein-1 alpha), monocyte-chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), MCP-3, MCP-4, and eotaxin. RANTES-induced PLD activation was augmented by GTP gamma S, but not GDP beta S, and inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide, as well as the fungal metabolite brefeldin A, and C3 exoenzyme (Clostridium botulinum), implicating the activation of RhoA. RANTES also induced GTP-GDP exchange of immunoprecipitated RhoA. RANTES-stimulated PLD activity was dependent on an ADP-ribosylation factor(s), as assessed by inhibition studies using a synthetic inhibitory peptide of the N-terminal 16 amino acids of ADP-ribosylation factor 1. These studies indicate the potential existence of a novel receptor-mediated mechanism for activation of T cells by the chemokine RANTES.

Identification and molecular characterization of fractalkine receptor CX3CR1, which mediates both leukocyte migration and adhesion.

Leukocyte trafficking at the endothelium requires both cellular adhesion molecules and chemotactic factors. Fractalkine, a novel transmembrane molecule with a CX3C-motif chemokine domain atop a mucin stalk, induces both adhesion and migration of leukocytes. Here we identify a seven-transmembrane high-affinity receptor for fractalkine and show that it mediates both the adhesive and migratory functions of fractalkine. The receptor, now termed CX3CR1, requires pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein signaling to induce migration but not to support adhesion, which also occurs without other adhesion molecules but requires the architecture of a chemokine domain atop the mucin stalk. Natural killer cells predominantly express CX3CR1 and respond to fractalkine in both migration and adhesion. Thus, fractalkine and CX3CR1 represent new types of leukocyte trafficking regulators, performing both adhesive and chemotactic functions.