title: Expression of CXCR4, the receptor for stromal cell-derived factor-1 on fetal and adult human lympho-hematopoietic progenitors.
abstract: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a CXC chemokine produced by stromal cells that acts as a chemoattractant for human CD34+ progenitor cells. We investigated the expression of CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1, on CD34+ cells from different hematopoietic sites and developmental stages. CXCR4 was detected by flow cytometry on 37 % of fetal bone marrow (BM) [gestation weeks (gw) 14-23] and 40% of adult BM CD34+ cells. Interestingly, in fetal liver CD34+ cells, CXCR4 was expressed at lower levels at later stages (9%, gw 20-23) compared to early stages of development (39%, gw 7.5-18), suggesting a development-related change in the migratory capacity of progenitors. CXCR4 was detected at similar levels on both phenotypically primitive and committed progenitors from fetal and adult sites. However, B cell lineage progenitor and precursor cells expressed CXCR4 at the highest density (80% of BM CD34+/CD10+ pro-B cells are CXCR4+). CXCR4 was also expressed in the fetal thymus in early T cell precursors and found to be down-regulated during T cell maturation. Finally, we found that stem cell factor, alone or in combination with other cytokines, can up-modulate CXCR4 expression on CD34+ cells by three- to fourfold. In conclusion, our results suggest that CXCR4 may play an important role in the local and systemic trafficking of human CD34+ cells as well as in human B lymphopoiesis and that its expression can be modulated by cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Scientific Institute H. S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy. aiuti@tigem.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiuti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cipponi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ficara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zappone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoxie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peault
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordignon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D016207:Cytokines; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4