title: Expression of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from rheumatoid arthritis-usual interstitial pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the SDF-1/ CXCR4 axis as driving mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem-cells to the injured lung in patients with rheumatoid arthritis associated usual interstitial pneumonia (RA-UIP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the m-RNA expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4 with real-time PCR in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of 7 RA-UIP and 10 RA patients without lung involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The axis was not expressed in RA whereas both SDF-1 and CXCR4 were expressed in RA-UIP [1.93 (1.32, 2.00) and 0.008 (0, 0.01)] respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of pulmonary fibrosis in RA may be considered as the key event for the migration of stem cells to the injured lung through the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. gmargaritop@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Margaritopoulos
authors.forename: Katerina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: Ismini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lasithiotaki
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Proklou
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soufla
authors.forename: Nikos M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Siafakas
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4