title: Gene structure and functional properties of mouse CRTH2, a prostaglandin D2 receptor.
abstract: CRTH2, the second receptor for prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)), is thought to play a role in allergic inflammations through the induction of chemotactic migration and/or the activation of Th2, eosinophils, and basophils, in humans. We previously identified the mouse CRTH2 homolog of human CRTH2 and suggest that animal models would provide a clear understanding on the precise function of CRTH2 in allergic disorders. To this end we have confirmed that mouse CRTH2 is similar in gene structure to human CRTH2 and revealed that mouse CRTH2 is predominantly expressed in the eosinophils derived from IL-5-transgenic mice. Moreover, mouse CRTH2 harbors the ability to bind PGD(2) with high affinity and intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization in a Gi-dependent manner and chemotactic responses in several transfected cell lines. The results demonstrated here indicate that mouse CRTH2 is the functional ortholog of human CRTH2 and paves the way for future analysis of the in vivo functions of CRTH2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Medicine and Development, R&D Center, BML, Inc., Saitama 350-1101, Japan. hirai@alk.co.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takatsu
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugamura
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kinya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D040461:Gene Components; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D015230:Prostaglandin D2; D002118:Calcium; C036293:prostaglandin D2 receptor