title: Developmental expression of chemokine receptor genes in the human fetus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemokines induce cell motility during embryogenesis by activating specific receptors. While the orchestration of organogenesis is complex and requires the interaction of many morphoregulatory molecules that lead to coordinated organ development, limited knowledge exists regarding the human developmental biology of chemokines and their receptors. Such information on chemokine receptor expression could potentially enhance our understanding of organogenesis in the normal human fetus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the distribution of the CXC receptors (CXCR-1, CXCR-2, CXCR-3, and CXCR-4) and SDF-1 in human fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissues from human fetuses 12-15 weeks (n = 5) and 16-19 weeks (n = 5) gestation were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-PCR was performed to simultaneously determine the gene expression of CXCR-1-4 and SDF-1, and immunohistochemical staining of non-hematopoietic tissues was used to determine the specific cellular proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CXCR-1-4 and SDF-1 mRNA were present in every tissue examined. The expression of CXCR-3 in kidney, liver, and brain was dependent upon gestational age. CXCR-1-4 protein was expressed in non-hematopoietic cells in the brain, heart, intestine, and kidney.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CXCR-1-4 and SDF-1 genes are widely expressed in the normal human fetus. This suggests that these gene products could influence fetal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Wenge
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gersting
authors.forename: Akhil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Darlene A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Calhoun
mesh_terms: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine