A lymphocyte-specific CC chemokine, secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC), is a highly efficient chemoattractant for B cells and activated T cells.
Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC) is a CC chemokine expressed mainly in lymph nodes, appendix and spleen, and specifically chemotactic for lymphocytes (Nagira et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1997. 272: 19518-19524). Here, we carried out transendothelial migration assays to determine the classes and subsets of lymphocytes migrating toward SLC. SLC attracted freshly isolated B cells with high efficiency and T cells modestly. Thus, SLC is the first CC chemokine with a strong chemotactic activity on fresh B cells. Among T cell types and subsets, SLC broadly attracted CD4+ and CD8+ cells, CD45RO- (naive) and CD45RO+ (memory) cells, and CD26high (activated) and CD26low- (resting) cells. SLC also attracted both L-selectin+ and L-selectin- subpopulations of various T cell subsets and B cells. Furthermore, mitogenic stimulation strongly enhanced migratory responses of T cells and B cells toward SLC. By in situ hybridization, SLC mRNA was detected in the cortical parafollicular regions (the T cell areas) of a lymph node and an appendix. Collectively, SLC may be a basic chemokine supporting homeostatic migration of a broad spectrum of lymphocytes into the secondary lymphoid tissues. SLC may also be involved in immune responses by inducing highly efficient migration of T and B cells following antigenic stimulation.
Nagira
M
M
Shionogi Institute for Medical Science, Osaka, Japan.
Imai
T
T
Yoshida
R
R
Takagi
S
S
Iwasaki
M
M
Baba
M
M
Tabira
Y
Y
Akagi
J
J
Nomiyama
H
H
Yoshie
O
O
D000328:Adult; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
C515478:CCL21 protein, human; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger