Stromal cell-derived factor-1 as a chemoattractant for follicular center lymphoma B cells

Background: Follicular center lymphoma displays widespread lymph node invol vement at diagnosis. The chemoattractants that control the locomotion of fo llicular center lymphoma B cells have not been established. Stromal cell-de rived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a CXC-class chemokine that enhances the migration of normal human B cells and is expressed in peripheral lymphoid tissues. H ere we have investigated 1) whether SBF-1 stimulates the in vitro locomotio n of follicular center lymphoma B cells and of their presumed normal counte rparts (i.e., germinal center B cells) and 2) whether the same cells expres s SDF-1 transcripts. Methods: B cells were purified by immunomagnetic bead manipulation. Messenger RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymeras e chain reaction. Migration was assessed by the filter and collagen invasio n assays. All P values were two sided. Results: Follicular center lymphoma B lymphocytes showed a statistically significant migratory response to 300 ng/mL SDF-1, both in the filter and in the collagen assays (P = .002 for ea ch). Such response,ras mediated by the SDF-1 receptor, CXCR4. CD40 monoclon al antibody (MAb) and tonsillar germinal center B cells treated with CD40 M Ab and recombinant interleukin 4, but not freshly isolated, migrated statis tically significantly faster in the presence than in the absence of SDF-1 ( P = .002 in both filter and collagen assays). Freshly isolated follicular c enter lymphoma and germinal center B cells expressed SDF-1 transcripts. Con clusions: This study shows that SDF-1 substantially enhances the migration of follicular center lymphoma B cells but not the migration of freshly puri fied germinal center B cells. This difference may be related to the extende d survival of follicular center lymphoma versus germinal center B cells. SD F-1 produced in follicular center lymphoma lymph nodes may play a role in t he local dissemination of tumor cells.