Expression of CCX CKR in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
OBJECTIVE
CCX CKR is a decoy chemokine receptor that specifically binds the chemokines CCL19, CCL25 and CCL21. CCL19 was previously found to be upregulated in pulmonary sarcoidosis. We have, therefore, investigated CCX CKR expression in this inflammatory disease.


RESULTS
CCX CKR mRNA was semiquantitated using RT-PCR in unseparated bronchoalveolar (BAL) cells from sarcoidosis patients (S, n = 29) and healthy control subjects (C, n = 9). CCX CKR transcripts were upregulated in patients (mean +/- SEM); S, 0.82 +/- 0.10; C, 0.44 +/- 0.04; p = 0.01; this upregulation paralleled the disease course as assessed by the chest radiographic stage (p < 0.02). Immunocytochemistry localised the CCX CKR protein to ciliated bronchial cells. Flow cytometric fluorescent ligand uptake assay showed that these cells are able to internalize its ligand.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations implicate CCX CKR in the modulation of the inflammatory response in sarcoidosis.
Kriegova
E
E
Department of Immunology, Palacky University and Faculty Hospital Olomouc, I.P. Pavlova str. 6, 775 20, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Tsyrulnyk
A
A
Arakelyan
A
A
Mrazek
F
F
Ordeltova
M
M
Petzmann
S
S
Zatloukal
J
J
Kolek
V
V
du Bois
R M
RM
Popper
H
H
Petrek
M
M
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054388:Receptors, CCR; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
C408223:ACKR4 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054388:Receptors, CCR; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine