title: CXCL12: role in neuroinflammation.
abstract: CXCL12, also known as SDF-1 (stromal cell derived factor-1) is a small protein that belongs to the chemokine family, whose members have a crucial role in directing cell migration. CXCL12 has an essential role in neural and vascular development, hematopoiesis and in immunity. It acts through two receptors, CXCR4 and CXCR7. While the former is a classic G protein-coupled transmembrane chemokine receptor, the latter primarily function as a scavenger of CXCL12. CXCL12 has been considered as a standard pro-inflammatory molecule for a long time, as it attracts leukocytes to inflammatory sites and contributes to their activation. However, recent findings indicate that this chemokine has the opposite role in neuroinflammation. In this review, basic data about molecular and functional properties of CXCL12 are presented, while its role in CNS autoimmunity is addressed in details.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Timotijević
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostarica Stojković
authors.forename: Djordje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miljković
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12