CD26/DPPIV is a multifunctional cell surface protein that is widely expressed in most cell types including T lymphocytes, on which it is a marker of activation. It is also present in serum and other body fluids in a truncated form (sCD26/DPPIV). It preferentially cleaves N-terminal dipeptides from polypeptides with proline or alanine in the penultimate position, and in doing so, regulates the activities of a number of cytokines and chemokines. Due in part to this ability to regulate the activity of biopeptides, it can act as a tumor suppressor or activator. It can associate with several proteins, among them fibroblast activating protein-alpha (FAP-alpha), plasminogen, adenosine deaminase (ADA), the tyrosine phosphatase CD45, and the chemokine receptor CXCR4. It can also bind to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and depending on the presence of other ligands, this process can either lead to increased or decreased invasive activity of the cells on which it is expressed. As a result of these characteristics, CD26/DPPIV plays an important role in tumor biology, and is useful as a marker for various cancers, with its levels either on the cell surface or in the serum being increased in some neoplasms and decreased in others. Our group has shown that CD26/DPPIV can be manipulated by such agents as CD26 cDNA-carrying plasmids, siRNA and monoclonal antibodies, resulting in both in vitro and in vivo inhibition of cell growth, enhanced sensitivity to selected chemotherapeutic agents, and enhanced survival of mouse xenograft models. These studies have demonstrated the utility of these tools as potential targeted therapies for specific cancers expressing CD26/DPPIV.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the synovium of multiple joints. We and others have shown that fractalkine (FKN/CX3CL1), a chemokine expressed on fibroblast-like synoviocytes and endothelial cells in RA synovium, may contribute to the accumulation of T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, which express CX3CR1, the receptor for FKN. This interaction might be involved in adhesion of the inflammatory cells to endothelial cells, migration into the synovium, and cytokine production. In this study, we examined the effect of FKN inhibition on murine collagen-induced arthritis. Anti-FKN mAb significantly lowered clinical arthritis score compared with control Ab, and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and bone erosion in the synovium. However, anti-FKN mAb did not affect the production of either serum anti-collagen type II (CII) IgG or IFN-γ by CII-stimulated splenic T cells. Furthermore, treatment with anti-FKN mAb inhibited migration of adoptively transferred splenic macrophages into the inflamed synovium. Our results suggest that anti-FKN mAb ameliorates arthritis by inhibiting infiltration of inflammatory cells into the synovium. Thus, FKN can be a new target molecule for the treatment of RA.

Objective. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation of multiple joints. Large numbers of T cells, which produce type 1 cytokines, infiltrate into RA synovium. Chemokines and chemokine receptors are considered to contribute to the T cell infiltration. In this study, we examined the role of CX3CL1/fractalkine and its receptor CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) in the T cell migration into RA synovium.Methods. Using flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed CX3CR1 expression by peripheral blood and synovial T cells, and CX3CL1 expression in synovium from patients with RA. Cytokine and cytotoxic molecule expression by CX3CR1-positive T cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results. CX3CR1 expression by peripheral CD4؉ and CD8؉ T cells was up-regulated in RA patients. The peripheral CD4؉ and CD8؉ T cells expressing CX3CR1 predominantly produced interferon-␥ and tumor necrosis factor ␣, and expressed cytotoxic molecules such as granzyme A and perforin. Furthermore, CX3CR1؉,CD3؉ T cells infiltrated into RA synovium. CX3CL1, the unique ligand of CX3CR1, was expressed by endothelial cells and synoviocytes in RA synovium, but not in osteoarthritis synovium.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the interactions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 might contribute to the accumulation of CX3CR1؉ T cells expressing type 1 cytokines and possessing cytotoxic granules in RA synovium.