Expression of the chemokine receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 in rat oligodendroglial cells

Chemokines are small proteins that act as chemoattractants and activators i n leukocytes during physiological and inflammatory processes. In the CNS ch emokine receptors have been shown to be expressed on neurons, astrocytes an d microglia but their function in the CNS is poorly understood. CXCR1 and C XCR2 are receptors for ELR-positive CXC chemokines which include growth-reg ulated oncogene alpha (GRO-alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). GRO-alpha is co nsidered to influence proliferation of cultured oligodendrocyte progenitors (OLPs). Using RT-PCR we show here that the oligodendrocyte precursor cell line CG-4 expresses both CXCR1 and CXCR2. Furthermore we demonstrate that b oth CG-4 cells and primary cultures of rat OLPs are immunoreactive for CXCR 2, the potential receptor for GRO-alpha. This finding demonstrates that the chemokine/chemokine receptor system is probably also involved in the regul ation of oligodendroglial cells during developmental processes and may even have implications for inflammatory demyelinating diseases like multiple sc lerosis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.