title: Identification and characterization of a potent, selective nonpeptide agonist of the CC chemokine receptor CCR8.
abstract: In this study, we report the first example of a nonpeptide chemokine receptor agonist, 2-{2-[4-(3-phenoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethoxy}ethanol (ZK 756326), for the CC chemokine receptor CCR8. ZK 756326 inhibited the binding of the CCR8 ligand I-309 (CCL1), with an IC(50) value of 1.8 muM. Furthermore, ZK 756326 was a full agonist of CCR8, dose-responsively eliciting an increase in intracellular calcium and cross-desensitizing the response of the receptor to CCL1. In addition, ZK 756326 stimulated extracellular acidification in cells expressing human CCR8. The ability of ZK 756326 to induce a response was receptor-specific and mediated through Galpha(i), because it could be blocked by treatment with pertussis toxin. The CCR8 agonist activated cells expressing murine CCR8, eliciting their chemotaxis and inducing phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK1/2. Like CCL1, ZK 756326 inhibited human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) fusion of cells expressing CD4 and CCR8. Finally, unlike mCCL1, ZK 756326 bound to and activated a form of mCCR8 that was mutated to eliminate O-linked sulfation at tyrosines 14 and 15. Therefore, ZK 756326 is most probably not binding in the same manner as CCL1 but can activate the switch mechanism involved in transducing signaling events. In summary, we have identified a nonpeptide agonist of CCR8. This compound may be useful in evaluating the physiological role of CCR8 in HIV infection, as well as in the general study of CCR8 biology without the constraints inherent to the use of protein agonists such as its natural ligand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Berlex Biosciences, Richmond, CA 94804, USA. christopher_haskell@berlex.com
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Horuk
authors.forename: Meina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosser
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunning
authors.forename: Imadul
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez-A
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Biscone
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Doms
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054401:Receptors, CCR8; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000819:agonists*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C507626:2-(2-(4-(3-phenoxybenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethoxy)ethanol; C103330:CCR8 protein, human; D010879:Piperazines; D054401:Receptors, CCR8; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases