The stromal cell-derived factor-1 α (SDF-1α)/cysteine-X-cysteine chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) axis: a possible prognostic indicator of acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The stromal cell-derived factor-1α/cysteine-X-cysteine chemokine receptor 4 (SDF-1α/CXCR4) axis promotes neuroprotection and angiogenesis in animal studies. Few studies have investigated the potential clinical implications of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We evaluated the prognostic values of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis in patients with proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion. METHODS: Fifty-five patients and 18 age- and sex-matched volunteers were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics and risk factors of stroke were recorded. Peripheral whole blood cells were double stained with anti-CD34 and anti-CXCR4 (CD184). CD34+CXCR4+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Plasma SDF-1α levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In the AIS group, plasma SDF-1α levels and the number of circulating CD34+CXCR4+ cells were significantly higher than those in controls. Day 1 SDF-1α levels were negatively correlated with infarct volume (r = -0.521) and the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (r = -0.489). SDF-1α levels (day 1: r = -0.514; day 3: r = -0.275; day 7: r = -0.375) and circulating CD34+CXCR4+ cells (day 7: r = -0.282) were inversely associated with the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score. CONCLUSION: The SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis has potential applications for predicting the clinical outcome of AIS.

Expression and clinical significance of cysteine-X-cysteine chemokine receptor 4, and stromal cell derived factor 1α in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To explore the expressions of stromal cell derived factor 1 α (SDF-1α) and cysteine-X-cysteine chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Forty hospitalized SLE patients were recruited and twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled as normal controls.The percentage of CD3+CD4+CXCR4+,CD3+CD8+CXCR4+ and the plasma concentration level of SDF-1α in the control group and SLE patients were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA.The relationship between SDF-1α/CXCR4 and SLEDAI was explored.Kruskal-Wallis H,Pearson's and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.Results the expression of SDF-1α [329 (127,539) pg/ml] and CXCR4 [CD3+CD4+CXCR4+:4.20(2.01,6.35)％,CD3+CD4+CXCR4+:2.70(1.68,4.20)％] were significantly elevated in SLE patients when compared to the normal controls (Z=-6.277,-5.707,-4.885,respectively,all P=0.000),and were significantly increased in highly active SLE patients than less active SLE (Z=-5.414,-5.256,-5.312,P＜0.01).The expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in the butterfly erythema group,anemia group and proteinuria group were significantly higher than the normal group (P＜0.05).Both SDF-1αand CXCR4 were positively correlated with SLEDAI (r=0.857,0.830,0.861,respectively,all P＜0.01).Conclusion The expressions of SDF-1α and CXCR4 increase significantly in the peripheral blood of SLE patients and there is close relationship between SDF-1α/CXCR4 and disease activity,organ damage.The results of this study suggestthat SDF-1α/CXCR4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.