title: Overexpression of the CXCR5 chemokine receptor, and its ligand, CXCL13 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: CXCL13 is a homeostatic chemokine for lymphocyte homing and positioning within follicles of secondary lymphoid tissues, acting through its cognate receptor, CXCR5. Moreover, the CXCR5-CXCL13 axis plays a unique role in trafficking and homing of B1 cells. Here, we report that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells express high levels of functional CXCR5. CXCR5 expression levels were similar on CLL B cells and normal CD5+ B cells, and higher compared with normal CD5- B cells, follicular B-helper T cells (T(FH) cells), or neoplastic B cells from other B-cell neoplasias. Stimulation of CLL cells with CXCL13 induces actin polymerization, CXCR5 endocytosis, chemotaxis, and prolonged activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Anti-CXCR5 antibodies, pertussis toxin, and wortmannin inhibited chemotaxis to CXCL13, demonstrating the importance of Gi proteins and PI3 kinases for CXCR5 signaling. Moreover, CLL patients had significantly higher CXCL13 serum levels than volunteers, and CXCL13 levels correlated with beta2 microglobulin. We detected CXCL13 mRNA expression by nurselike cells, and high levels of CXCL13 protein in supernatants of CLL nurselike cell cultures. By immunohistochemistry, we detected CXCL13+ expression by CD68+ macrophages in situ within CLL lymph nodes. These data suggest that CXCR5 plays a role in CLL cell positioning and cognate interactions between CLL and CXCL13-secreting CD68+ accessory cells in lymphoid tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Freiburg University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bürkle
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedermeier
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmitt-Gräff
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wierda
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000502:physiology; D004705:Endocytosis; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D054382:Chemokine CXCL13; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; C110663:CXCL13 protein, human