Chemokines are thought to control lymphocyte recruitment to the inflamed endothelium. To dissect chemokine-mediated adhesion, binding of ex vivo isolated splenocytes to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-activated endothelial cells was analyzed under shear stress. We observed specific adhesion of naive follicular B cells, which could be blocked by pertussis toxin. This indicated a G protein-mediated binding and pointed at a contribution of chemokine receptors to B-cell adhesion. Analysis of chemokines expressed by TNF-activated endothelial cells showed that CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL17, and CCL20 were up-regulated. Only on follicular B cells was the cognate receptor for CCL20, CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6), expressed strongly, and a functional transmigration assay with CCR6-negative B cells demonstrated conclusively the sole signaling of CCL20 through CCR6. Desensitization of CCR6 on naive B cells with CCL20 resulted in receptor down-regulation and reduced B-cell adhesion. We conclude that CCL20 plays a vital role in B-cell adhesion to the inflamed endothelium. © 2003 by The American Society of Hematology.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Immunology
Research Field:	Immunology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical health
Objective Field:	Clinical health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Korner, H (Professor Heinrich Korner)
ID Code:	72475
Year Published:	2003
Web of Science® Times Cited:	35
Deposited By:	Research Division
Deposited On:	2011-08-26
Last Modified:	2011-09-27
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