Surface CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Research Articles

The Triterpenoid Nrf2 Activator, CDDO-Me, Decreases Neutrophil Senescence in a Murine Model of Joint Damage.

The synthetic 2-cyano-3,12-dioxo-oleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid methyl ester (CDDO-Me) is a potent activator of the erythroid 2-p45-derived factor 2, Nrf2, a leucine-zipper regulator of the antioxidant response. Herein, we investigated the effect of CDDO-Me on neutrophil function in a murine model of joint damage. Collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) was initiated by the intra-articular injection of collagenase in the knee-joint cavity of Balb/c mice. CDDO-Me was administrated intra-articularly twice a week starting at day 7 post-CIOA, and its effect was evaluated at day 14. Neutrophils in blood and bone marrow (BM), cell apoptosis, necrosis, expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), beta-galactosidase (β-Gal), and Nrf2 levels were measured by flow cytometry. In vitro, CDDO-Me promoted cell survival, reduced cell necrosis, and increased Nrf2 levels by 1.6 times. It decreased surface CXCR4 expression and reduced the frequency of senescent β-Gal+CXCR4+ neutrophils by three times. In vivo, the degree of knee-joint damage in CIOA was correlated with upregulated CXCR4 on CD11b+ neutrophils. CDDO-Me improved the disease histological score, increased the levels of Nrf2, and downregulated surface CXCR4 on mature BM cells. Our data suggest that CDDO-Me may act as a potent regulator of neutrophil senescence during the progression of knee-joint damage.

Synthetic CXCR4 Antagonistic Peptide Assembling with Nanoscaled Micelles Combat Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult acute leukemia with very low survival rate due to drug resistance and high relapse rate. The C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is highly expressed by AML cells, actively mediating chemoresistance and reoccurrence. Herein, a chemically synthesized CXCR4 antagonistic peptide E5 is fabricated to micelle formulation (M-E5) and applied to refractory AML mice, and its therapeutic effects and pharmacokinetics are investigated. Results show that M-E5 can effectively block the surface CXCR4 in leukemic cells separated from bone marrow (BM) and spleen, and inhibit the C-X-C chemokine ligand 12-mediated migration. Subcutaneous administration of M-E5 significantly inhibits the engraftment of leukemic cells in spleen and BM, and mobilizes residue leukemic cells into peripheral blood, reducing organs' burden and significantly prolonging the survival of AML mice. M-E5 can also increase the efficacy of combining regime of homoharringtonine and doxorubicin. Ribonucleic acid sequencing demonstrates that the therapeutic effect is contributed by inhibiting proliferation and enhancing apoptosis and differentiation, all related to the CXCR4 signaling blockade. M-E5 reaches the concentration peak at 2 h after administration with a half-life of 14.5 h in blood. In conclusion, M-E5 is a novel promising therapeutic candidate for refractory AML treatment.

CXCR4 upregulation is an indicator of sensitivity to B-cell receptor/PI3K blockade and a potential resistance mechanism in B-cell receptor-dependent diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway components represent promising treatment targets in multiple B-cell malignancies including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In in vitro and in vivo model systems, a subset of DLBCLs depend upon BCR survival signals and respond to proximal BCR/phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) blockade. However, single-agent BCR pathway inhibitors have had more limited activity in patients with DLBCL, underscoring the need for indicators of sensitivity to BCR blockade and insights into potential resistance mechanisms. Here, we report highly significant transcriptional upregulation of C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in BCR-dependent DLBCL cell lines and primary tumors following chemical spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibition, molecular SYK depletion or chemical PI3K blockade. SYK or PI3K inhibition also selectively upregulated cell surface CXCR4 protein expression in BCR-dependent DLBCLs. CXCR4 expression was directly modulated by fork-head box O1 via the PI3K/protein kinase B/forkhead box O1 signaling axis. Following chemical SYK inhibition, all BCR-dependent DLBCLs exhibited significantly increased stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) induced chemotaxis, consistent with the role of CXCR4 signaling in B-cell migration. Select PI3K isoform inhibitors also augmented SDF-1α induced chemotaxis. These data define CXCR4 upregulation as an indicator of sensitivity to BCR/PI3K blockade and identify CXCR4 signaling as a potential resistance mechanism in BCR-dependent DLBCLs.

CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 Is Expressed Paravascularly in Apical Papilla and Coordinates with Stromal Cell–derived Factor-1α during Transmigration of Stem Cells from Apical Papilla

IntroductionStem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) at the apex may be attracted into the root canal space as a cell source for pulp-dentin regeneration. To test this possibility, we used in vitro transmigration models to investigate whether SCAPs can be chemoattracted by the delivery of the chemotactic cytokine stromal cell–derived factor-1α (SDF-1α). MethodsWe first examined the expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) for SDF-1α in the apical papilla and in cultured SCAPs using immunofluorescence, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and flow cytometric analyses. A standard Transwell migration assay and a 3-dimensional cell migration assay were used to analyze transmigration of SCAPs via the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis. ResultsCXCR4 was expressed in the paravascular region of the apical papilla and detected in SCAP cultures. Most cultured SCAPs harbored intracellular CXCR4 (58%–99%, n = 4), whereas only a few cells had detectable CXCR4 on the cell surface (0.3%–2.34%, n = 4). Although SDF-1α had no significant effect on SCAP proliferation, it significantly promoted a higher number of migrated cells; this effect was abolished by anti-CXCR4 antibodies. Interestingly, cell surface CXCR4 on SCAPs was not detectable until after transmigration. The 3-dimensional migration assay revealed that SDF-1α significantly enhanced SCAP migration in the collagen gel. ConclusionsSCAPs can be chemoattracted via the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis, suggesting that SDF-1α may be used clinically to induce CXCR4-expressing SCAPs in the apical papilla to transmigrate into the root canal space as an endogenous cell source for pulp regeneration.

Effects of CXC chemokine receptor 4 on proliferation of primary gallbladder cancer cells

Objective To investigate the effect of CXC chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)on the growth of the gallbladder cancer cell line GBC- SD. Methods Using real- time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real- time PCR), Western blotting and flow cytometry, the expression of CXCR4 was detected in GBC- SD cells.After GBC- SD cells were transfected with CXCR4 shRNA, the proliferation was measured by MTT. Results The level of mRNA and protein of CXCR4 in GBCSD cells, as well as the surface CXCR4 molecule on GBC- SD cells were all highly expressed than that in ECV-304 alls[(70.30±3.50)% vs.(0.76±0.11)%].The proliferation of GBC- SD cells was inhibited when CXCR4 was knocked down(3.19±0.16 vs.1.63±0.23). Conclusion The CXCR4 was highly expressed in GBC- SD cells, and the targeting of stromal cell derived factor- 1(SDF- 1)/CXCR4 axis may be a novel strategy to control the progress of gallbladder cancer. Key words: CXC chemokine receptor 4; Cell proliferation; Gallbladder cancer

CXCR4 Antagonists: A Screening Strategy for Identification of Functionally Selective Ligands

The CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a widely expressed G protein–coupled receptor implicated in several diseases. In cancer, an increased number of surface CXCR4 receptors, in parallel with aberrant signaling, have been reported to influence several aspects of malignancy progression. CXCR4 activation by the specific ligand C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) induces several intracellular signaling pathways that have been selectively related to malignancy depending on the tissue or cell type. We developed a panel of CXCR4 screening assays investigating Gαi-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate modulation, β-arrestin recruitment, and receptor internalization. All of the assays were set up in recombinant cells and were used to test four reported CXCR4 antagonists. Consequently, a set of hit compounds, deriving from a screening campaign of a 30,000-small-molecule internal library, was profiled with the different assays. We identified several compounds showing a pathway-selective activity: antagonists on a Gαi-dependent pathway; antagonists on both the β-arrestin and Gαi-dependent pathways, some of which induce receptor internalization; and compounds with an antagonist behavior in all of the readouts. The identified biased antagonists induce different functional states on CXCR4 and preferentially affect specific downstream responses from the activated receptor, thus providing an improved therapeutic profile for correction of CXCR4 abnormal signaling.

Enhanced Homing of HSPCs After Treatment with Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) May Be An Effect of Transcriptional Regulation of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) Through Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α (HIF1α)

Abstract 918Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is widely used to treat a number of hematological malignancies. However, to be effective, transplanted HSCs must efficiently “home” to their supportive niches within the bone marrow. Limited HSC number and poor function are complications of transplant in some circumstances, and can lead to impaired immune function and bone marrow failure. Enhancing HSC homing is a strategy to improve stem cell transplantation outcomes. We have previously shown that treatment of mouse or human HSCs with 1μM 16–16 dimethyl PGE2 (dmPGE2) ex vivo increases their bone marrow homing efficiency and engraftment, coordinate with an increase in surface CXCR4 expression. The transcription factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α (HIF1α) has been shown to up-regulate CXCR4 in certain cancer models. In addition, PGE2 has been shown to stabilize HIF1α under normoxic conditions. We hypothesized that the effects of PGE2 on CXCR4 expression and homing might result from stabilization of HIF1α and its subsequent transcriptional activity in the transplanted HSCs. Treatment of lineageneg bone marrow cells with 1μM dmPGE2 resulted in a 33 ± 8.6% increase in HIF1α protein levels over vehicle (p<0.05) measured by Western Blot analysis. In addition, treatment of HSC with the hypoxia mimetic dimethyloxallyl glycine (DMOG) also resulted in an increase in CXCR4 cell surface expression in mouse LinnegSca-1posc-kitpos (SKL) cells (11.3 ± 3.9% MFI over vehicle, p<0.05) and human CD34+ umbilical cord blood cells (20.1 ± 3.6% MFI over vehicle), which was comparable to treatment with dmPGE2. This increase in CXCR4 expression translated to a functional increase in SKL migration to SDF-1 (46.7 ± 1.5% migration compared to 35 ± 3.1% migration in vehicle, p<0.05). To determine whether the effects of PGE2 on CXCR4 were due effects on HIF1 transcriptional activity, we employed two mouse hepatoma cell lines (ARNT- and ARNT+). These cells express detectable levels of CXCR4 as well as all four of the PGE2 G-protein coupled receptors (EP1-4). However the ARNT- cell line lacks the HIF nuclear translocator, and thus lacks HIF1 transcriptional activity. While ARNT+ cells showed the characteristic increase in CXCR4 cell surface protein (91.3 ± 28.7%) and mRNA (5.69-fold increase) after treatment with 1μM dmPGE2, ARNT- cells failed to show a similar up-regulation of CXCR4 protein (15 ± 6.1% increase) and mRNA (0.44-fold increase) after PGE2 treatment. These data suggest that HIF1 transcriptional activity is necessary for PGE2-mediated CXCR4 regulation. To determine whether HIF1α stabilization has similar effects on HSC function after transplant, in vivo homing studies were performed. Pulse-treatment of mouse SKL cells with 5μM DMOG ex vivo for 1 hour resulted in a 2.9-fold increase in homing (p<0.005), compared to a 2.5-fold increase for cells treated with dmPGE2. Treatment of donor cells with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 resulted in a statistically significant reduction in SKL homing (74.8 ± 9%, p<0.05), indicating that DMOG’s positive effects on homing are mainly due to CXCR4 up-regulation and are similar to effects seen after dmPGE2 treatment. These data suggest the effects of PGE2 on CXCR4 expression are at least partially due to the stabilization of HIF1α. Due to the importance of HIF1α and its involvement in HSC regulation, PGE2 treatment could also have effects on other pathways associated with the hypoxic response mediated through HIF1α that could be targeted to modulate HSC function. Further studies could potentially identify more specific targets to improve the efficacy of HSCs after transplant. Disclosures:Hoggatt:Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy. Pelus:Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy.

Enhanced function with decreased internalization of carboxy-terminus truncated CXCR4 responsible for WHIM syndrome

WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent bacterial infection, myelokathexis) syndrome is an autosomal dominant immune deficiency with severe chronic neutropenia and marrow neutrophil apoptosis. Carboxy-termini truncating mutations in the chemokine receptor CXCR4 have been identified in WHIM patients. We created a retrovirus encoding mutated CXCR4 (truncating point mutation 1000C-->T [R334X] inherited heterozygously in several WHIM patients) in order to transducer healthy human CD34 stem cells and K562 to overexpress mutated CXCR4 and determined its effect on receptor responses to stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF1). Retrovirus vector was engineered to coexpress WHIM-associated R334X mutated CXCR4 together with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Control vectors included similar constructs with wild-type CXCR4 (WT-CXCR4) or only GFP. CD34+ cells and K562 were transduced with these vectors. Populations of 100% transduced K562 were established by sorting GFP+ cells by flow cytometry. We performed migration and calcium flux assays of transduced CD34+ cells and transduced/sorted K562. We also examined receptor recycling in response to SDF1. Healthy human CD34+ cells and/or human erythroleukemia K562 cells transduced to express mutated CXCR4, WT-CXCR4, or GFP alone demonstrated that mutated CXCR4 was associated with enhanced calcium flux and enhanced migration. There was also decreased receptor internalization and enhanced recovery of surface mutated CXCR4 in response to SDF1 compared with WT-CXCR4. We propose that decreased internalization of WHIM-associated mutated CXCR4 leads to prolongation/enhancement of signaling in response to SDF1 and that this may provide the biochemical basis for the autosomal dominant abnormalities of cell trafficking and function associated with WHIM syndrome.

Highlights from: The 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology; San Diego, CA, December 2004

The CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a widely expressed G protein–coupled receptor implicated in several diseases. In cancer, an increased number of surface CXCR4 receptors, in parallel with aberrant signaling, have been reported to influence several aspects of malignancy progression. CXCR4 activation by the specific ligand C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) induces several intracellular signaling pathways that have been selectively related to malignancy depending on the tissue or cell type. We developed a panel of CXCR4 screening assays investigating Gαi-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate modulation, β-arrestin recruitment, and receptor internalization. All of the assays were set up in recombinant cells and were used to test four reported CXCR4 antagonists. Consequently, a set of hit compounds, deriving from a screening campaign of a 30,000-small-molecule internal library, was profiled with the different assays. We identified several compounds showing a pathway-selective activity: antagonists on a Gαi-dependent pathway; antagonists on both the β-arrestin and Gαi-dependent pathways, some of which induce receptor internalization; and compounds with an antagonist behavior in all of the readouts. The identified biased antagonists induce different functional states on CXCR4 and preferentially affect specific downstream responses from the activated receptor, thus providing an improved therapeutic profile for correction of CXCR4 abnormal signaling.

Cytokine-mediated regulation of CXCR4 expression in human neutrophils

Several lines of evidence have suggested that a CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)/stromal cell-derived factor-1 [SDF-1; CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)] pair is involved in baseline trafficking of leukocytes into extravascular tissues and that modulation of surface CXCR4 expression may represent an alternative mechanism for control of cell-specific biological responses to SDF-1/CXCL12. We explored the regulation of CXCR4 expression by cytokines in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). No significant surface expression of CXCR4 in freshly isolated PMNs was detected, but expression became apparent gradually during incubation. SDF-1alpha/CXCL12 initiated Ca2+ mobilization and migratory responses in 20 h cultured PMNs. The surface CXCR4 expression was suppressed most potently by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). IFN-alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and G-CSF also inhibited spontaneous CXCR4 expression. Real-time, quantitative PCR experiments revealed that a spontaneous increase and an IFN-gamma-mediated decrease in surface CXCR4 paralleled changes in the CXCR4 mRNA level. These results on PMNs support the argument that the SDF-1 (CXCL12)/CXCR4 system is regulated by cell type-specific mechanisms.

Stroma-derived factor 1alpha induces a selective inhibition of human erythroid development via the functional upregulation of Fas/CD95 ligand.

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), the high-affinity receptor for stroma-derived factor 1alpha (SDF-1alpha), shows distinct patterns of expression in human CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells induced to differentiate in vitro along the granulocytic and erythroid lineages. In serum-free liquid cultures supplemented with stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the expression of surface CXCR4 progressively increased in cells differentiating along the granulocytic lineage. The addition in culture of 200 ng/ml of SDF-1alpha, a concentration which maximally activated intracellular Ca2+ flux, only modestly affected the expression levels of CD15 and CD11b granulocytic antigens, as well as the total number of viable cells. On the other hand, in liquid cultures supplemented with SCF, IL-3 and erythropoietin, SDF-1alpha induced the downregulation of glycophorin A erythroid antigen, accompanied by a progressive decline in the number of viable erythroblasts. Moreover, in semisolid assays, SDF-1alpha significantly reduced the number of plurifocal erythroid colonies (erythroid blast-forming units; BFU-E), whereas it did not affect granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM). We also demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of SDF-1alpha on glycophorin A+ erythroid cell development was mediated by the functional upregulation of CD95L in erythroid cultures. These data indicate that SDF-1alpha plays a role as a negative regulator of erythropoiesis.

Stroma‐derived factor 1α induces a selective inhibition of human erythroid development via the functional upregulation of Fas/CD95 ligand

CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), the high‐affinity receptor for stroma‐derived factor 1α (SDF‐1α), shows distinct patterns of expression in human CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells induced to differentiate in vitro along the granulocytic and erythroid lineages. In serum‐free liquid cultures supplemented with stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL‐3) and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, the expression of surface CXCR4 progressively increased in cells differentiating along the granulocytic lineage. The addition in culture of 200 ng/ml of SDF‐1α, a concentration which maximally activated intracellular Ca2+ flux, only modestly affected the expression levels of CD15 and CD11b granulocytic antigens, as well as the total number of viable cells. On the other hand, in liquid cultures supplemented with SCF, IL‐3 and erythropoietin, SDF‐1α induced the downregulation of glycophorin A erythroid antigen, accompanied by a progressive decline in the number of viable erythroblasts. Moreover, in semisolid assays, SDF‐1α significantly reduced the number of plurifocal erythroid colonies (erythroid blast‐forming units; BFU‐E), whereas it did not affect granulocyte–macrophage colony‐forming units (CFU‐GM). We also demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of SDF‐1α on glycophorin A+ erythroid cell development was mediated by the functional upregulation of CD95L in erythroid cultures. These data indicate that SDF‐1α plays a role as a negative regulator of erythropoiesis.

Engagement of CD28 modulates CXC chemokine receptor 4 surface expression in both resting and CD3-stimulated CD4+ T cells.

Optimal CD4+ T cell activation requires the cooperation of multiple signaling pathways coupled to the TCR-CD3 complex and to the CD28 costimulatory molecule. In this study, we have investigated the expression of surface CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in enriched populations of CD4+ T PBL, stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs, immobilized on plastic. Anti-CD3 alone induced a progressive down-regulation of surface CXCR4, accompanied by a significant decline in the entry of the HXB2 T cell line-tropic (X4-tropic) HIV-1 clone in CD4+ T cells. Of note, this effect was strictly dependent on the presence in culture of CD14+ monocytes. On the other hand, anti-CD28 alone induced a small but reproducible increase in the expression of surface CXCR4 as well as in the entry of HXB2 HIV-1 clone in resting CD4+ T cells. When the two mAbs were used in combination, anti-CD28 potently synergized with anti-CD3 in inducing the expression of CD69 activation marker and stimulating the proliferation of CD4+ T cells. On the other hand, anti-CD28 counteracted the CXCR4 down-modulation induced by anti-CD3. The latter effect was particularly evident when anti-CD28 was associated to suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD3. Because CXCR4 is the major coreceptor for the highly cytopathic X4-tropic HIV-1 strains, which preferentially replicate in proliferating CD4+ T cells, the ability of anti-CD28 to up-regulate the surface expression of CXCR4 in both resting and activated CD4+ T cells provides one relevant mechanism for the progression of HIV-1 disease.

Differential effects of stromal derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha) on early and late stages of human megakaryocytic development.

Stromal derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha), the high-affinity ligand of CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), was added to human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells that can be induced to differentiate along the monocytic or megakaryocytic lineages. In control liquid cell cultures supplemented with two different cytokine cocktails: stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), and 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), or, SCF and thrombopoietin (TPO), the expression of surface CXCR4 progressively increased in both the CD14(+) monocytic and CD41(+) megakaryocytic lineages. While SDF-1 alpha caused only modest effects on cells of the monocytic lineage, it induced profound down-regulation of CXCR4 in megakaryocytic cells at all stages of differentiation. Moreover, while SDF-1 alpha initially up-regulated the early megakaryocytic antigen CD41, at later time points (days 12-16) it induced down-regulation of the late megakaryocytic antigen CD42b. Consistently, at day 16, the number of mature megakaryocytes was significantly decreased in cultures supplemented with SDF-1 alpha. These findings indicate that, besides its primary role in regulating the retention of precursor cells in hematopoietic tissues, the SDF-1 alpha/CXCR4 system participates in the regulation of megakaryocytic development by stimulating the formation of immature megakaryoblasts and inhibiting the formation of mature megakaryocytes.

Inhibition of Tyrosine Kinase Activation Blocks the Down-Regulation of CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 by HIV-1 gp120 in CD4+ T Cells

Because the binding of HIV-1 envelope to CD4 initiates a configurational change in glycoprotein 120 (gp120), enabling it to interact with fusion coreceptors, we investigated how this process interferes with the expression and function of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in CD4+ T lymphocytes. A recombinant gp120 (MN), after preincubation with CD4+ T lymphocytes, significantly inhibited the binding and chemotaxis of the cells in response to the CXCR4 ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha), accompanied by a markedly reduced surface expression of CXCR4. gp120, but not SDF-1alpha, induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of src-like kinase p56lck in CD4+ T cells, whereas both gp120 and SDF-1alpha caused phosphorylation of the CXCR4. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A abolished the phosphorylation of p56lck and CXCR4 induced by gp120 in association with maintenance of normal expression of cell surface CXCR4 and a migratory response to SDF-1alpha. Thus, a CD4-associated signaling molecule(s) including p56lck is activated by gp120 and is required for the down-regulation of CXCR4.

Progressive and Persistent Downregulation of Surface CXCR4 in CD4+ T Cells Infected With Human Herpesvirus 7

We have previously shown that infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes with the T-lymphotropic human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) downregulates surface CD4, which represents the high-affinity receptor for HHV-7. In this study, we report that HHV-7 infection also causes a progressive loss of the surface CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in CD4+ T cells, accompanied by a reduced intracellular Ca2+ flux and chemotaxis in response to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), the specific CXCR4 ligand. Moreover, CXCR4 is downregulated from the surface of HHV-7–infected T cells independently of CD4. Because intracellular CXCR4 antigen and mRNA levels are unaffected in productively HHV-7–infected cells, the downregulation of CXCR4 apparently does not involve a transcritional block. Since CXCR4 functions in association with CD4 to permit entry of several human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) isolates, the potential of HHV-7 to persistently downregulate the surface expression of CXCR4 may provide novel strategies for limiting HIV infection.