Functional interleuin-8 (IL-8) receptors (IL-8RA and IL-8RB:CXCR1 and CXCR2, respectively) have been described in human, monkey, dog, rabbit, and guinea pig. Although three IL-8R homologues have been found in rat, only one of these, rat CXCR2, appears to be functional based on responsiveness to ligands. Similarly, CXC chemokines induce biological responses through the murine homolog of CXCR2, but the identification of functional rodent CXCR1 homologues has remained elusive. We have identified and characterized the mouse CXCR1 homologue (mCXCR1). Murine CXCR1 shares 68 and 88% amino acid identity with its human and rat counterparts, respectively. Similar to the tissue distribution pattern of rat CXCR1, we found murine CXCR1 mRNA expression predominantly in lung, stomach, bone marrow, and leukocyte-rich tissues. In contrast to previous reports, we determined that mCXCR1 is a functional receptor. We show predominant engagement of this receptor by mouse GCP-2/CXCL6, human GCP-2, and IL-8/CXCL8 by binding, stimulation of GTP␥S exchange, and chemotaxis of mCXCR1-transfected cells. Furthermore, murine CXCR1 is not responsive to the human CXCR2 ligands ENA-78/CXCL5, NAP-2/CXCL7, GRO-␣, -␤, -␥/CXCL1-3, or rat CINC-1-3. In addition, we show concomitant elevation of mCXCR1 and its proposed major ligand, GCP-2, positively correlated with paw swelling in murine collagen-induced arthritis. This report represents the first description of a functional CXCR1-like receptor in rodents.

Sch527123 [2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-3-[[2-[[1(R)-(5-methyl-2-furanyl)propyl]amino]-3,4-dioxo-1-cyclobuten-1-yl]amino]benzamide] is a potent, selective antagonist of the human CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors (Gonsiorek et al., 2007). Here we describe its pharmacologic properties at rodent CXCR2 and at the CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors in the cynomolgus monkey, as well as its in vivo activity in models demonstrating prominent pulmonary neutrophilia, goblet cell hyperplasia, and mucus production. Sch527123 bound with high affinity to the CXCR2 receptors of mouse (K d ϭ 0.20 nM), rat (K d ϭ 0.20 nM), and cynomolgus monkey (K d ϭ 0.08 nM) and was a potent antagonist of CXCR2-mediated chemotaxis (IC 50 ϳ3-6 nM). In contrast, Sch527123 bound to cynomolgus CXCR1 with lesser affinity (K d ϭ 41 nM) and weakly inhibited cynomolgus CXCR1-mediated chemotaxis (IC 50 ϳ1000 nM). Oral treatment with Sch527123 blocked pulmonary neutrophilia (ED 50 ϭ 1.2 mg/kg) and goblet cell hyperplasia (32-38% inhibition at 1-3 mg/kg) in mice following the intranasal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. In rats, Sch527123 suppressed the pulmonary neutrophilia (ED 50 ϭ 1.8 mg/kg) and increase in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) mucin content (ED 50 ϭ Ͻ0.1 mg/kg) induced by intratracheal (i.t.) LPS. Sch527123 also suppressed the pulmonary neutrophilia (ED 50 ϭ 1.3 mg/kg), goblet cell hyperplasia (ED 50 ϭ 0.7 mg/kg), and increase in BAL mucin content (ED 50 ϭ Ͻ1 mg/kg) in rats after i.t. administration of vanadium pentoxide. In cynomolgus monkeys, Sch527123 reduced the pulmonary neutrophilia induced by repeat bronchoscopy and lavage (ED 50 ϭ 0.3 mg/kg). Therefore, Sch527123 may offer benefit for the treatment of inflammatory lung disorders in which pulmonary neutrophilia and mucus hypersecretion are important components of the underlying disease pathology.Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth major cause of death in the United States and is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation due to chronic bronchitis or emphysema (Barnes and Stockley, 2005). The pathological hallmarks of COPD include peripheral airway inflammation dominated by neutrophils, the destruction of the lung parenchyma, submucosal gland hypertrophy, and goblet cell hyperplasia, as well as an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (Barnes and Stockley, 2005). Current therapies for COPD are similar to those for asthma and include the use of ␤-adrenoceptor agonists, theophylline, muscarinic antagonists, and corticosteroids (Barnes and Stockley, 2005). However, these treatments do not prevent the progressive decline in lung function and demonstrate clinical activity in only a subpopulation of COPD patients. There is a strong correlation between disease Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at

In neutrophils, growth-related protein-␣ (CXCL1) and interleukin-8 (CXCL8), are potent chemoattractants (Cytokine 14:27-36, 2001; Biochemistry 42: 2874 -2886, 2003) and can stimulate myeloperoxidase release via activation of the G protein-coupled receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2. The role of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory responses has encouraged the development of small molecule antagonists for these receptors. The data presented herein describe the phar-, a novel antagonist of both CXCR1 and CXCR2. Sch527123 inhibited chemokine binding to (and activation of) these receptors in an insurmountable manner and, as such, is categorized as an allosteric antagonist. Sch527123 inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis and myeloperoxidase release in response to CXCL1 and CXCL8 but had no effect on the response of these cells to C5a or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. The pharmacological specificity of Sch527123 was confirmed by testing in a diversity profile against a panel of enzymes, channels, and receptors. To measure compound affinity, we characterized [ 3 H]Sch527123 in both equilibrium and nonequilibrium binding analyses. Sch527123 binding to CXCR1 and CXCR2 was both saturable and reversible. Although Sch527123 bound to CXCR1 with good affinity (K d ϭ 3.9 Ϯ 0.3 nM), the compound is CXCR2-selective (K d ϭ 0.049 Ϯ 0.004 nM). Taken together, our data show that Sch527123 represents a novel, potent, and specific CXCR2 antagonist with potential therapeutic utility in a variety of inflammatory conditions.

Extensive characterization of adenosine receptors expressed by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) was performed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction, radioligand binding, and calcium signaling. Transcript for the A3 adenosine receptor was elevated more than 100-fold in immature MDDCs compared with monocyte precursors. A3 receptor transcript was substantially diminished, and A2A receptor transcript increased, by lipopolysaccharide maturation of MDDCs. Saturation binding of N Pretreatment with 100 nM 2Cl-IB-MECA eliminated responses to CGS21680 but not to monocyte inhibitory protein-1␣. For comparison, dose-response functions were obtained from doublerecombinant human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing the human A3 receptor and a chimeric G␣q-i3 protein, which was required to establish A3-mediated calcium signaling. The pharmacological profile of calcium signaling elicited by adenosine-related agonists in the double-recombinant cells was essentially identical to that obtained from immature MDDCs. Our results provide an extensive analysis of A3-mediated calcium signaling and unequivocally identify immature MDDCs as native expressers of the human A3 receptor.

1 C-C chemokine receptor-1 (CCR1) has been implicated in mediating a variety of in¯ammatory conditions including multiple sclerosis and organ rejection. Although originally referred to as the MIP-1a/RANTES receptor, CCR1 is quite promiscuous and can be activated by numerous chemokines. 2 We used radioligand binding and [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange assays in membranes from a cell line transfected to express CCR1 (Ba/F3-hCCR1) to characterize a panel of chemokines (HCC-1, MIP1a, MIP-1b, MIP-1d, MPIF-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, and RANTES) as CCR1 ligands. In this recombinant model, these chemokines displaced 125 I-MIP-1a with a wide range of potencies and, with the exception of MCP-2, acted as full agonists in stimulating [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange. 3 We then assessed the utility of HL-60 cells cultured with known di erentiating agents (PMA, DMSO, dibutyryl-cAMP or retinoic acid) for investigating CCR1 pharmacology. In [ 35 S]-GTPgS exchange assays, membranes from cells cultured with retinoic acid (4 ± 6 days) were the most responsive to activation by MIP-1a and MPIF-1. FACS analysis and comparative pharmacology con®rmed that these activities were mediated by CCR1. HCC-1, haemo®ltrate CC chemokine 1; IP-10, interferon-inducible protein of 10 kDa; I-TAC, interferoninducible T cell a chemoattractant; IL-8, interleukin-8; MIP-1a, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1a; MIP-1b, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1b; MIP-1d, macrophage in¯ammatory protein-1d; MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, -2 and -3; Met-RANTES, methionylated RANTES; Mig, monokine-induced by human interferon g; MPIF-1, myeloid progenitor inhibitor factor-1; NAP-2, neutrophil activating peptide-2; RANTES, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted; WGA-SPA, wheat germ agglutinin bead-scintillation proximity assay