title: Cutting edge: CXCR4-Lo: molecular cloning and functional expression of a novel human CXCR4 splice variant.
abstract: Human CXCR4 is a specific receptor for the CXC chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and a coreceptor for T cell line tropic strains of HIV-1. Genetic knockouts of CXCR4 and SDF-1 have delineated their critical role during embryonic cardiogenesis, leukopoiesis, and vasculogenesis. Herein, we used bioinformatics and differential strategies like isoform-specific RT-PCR and Northern blots to identify and clone a novel unspliced isoform of human CXCR4, termed CXCR4-Lo. CXCR4-Lo corresponds to a larger approximately 4. 0-kb mRNA transcript and differs from the known human CXCR4 by the first 9 aa in the functionally important NH2-terminal extracellular domain of the receptor. CXCR4-Lo-transfected rat basophil leukemia-2H3 cells responded to SDF-1 with a transient rise of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and by undergoing chemotaxis. Expression of CXCR4-Lo is noteworthy, as it may have differential affinity as a coreceptor for HIV strains in comparison with CXCR4. Furthermore, CXCR4-Lo may also provide a functional backup to CXCR4 during embryogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA. Shalley_K_Gupta@sbphrd.com
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pillarisetti
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000494:pharmacology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015471:Leukemia, Basophilic, Acute; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4