C-X-C chemokine receptor type 5 and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 axis (CXCR5-CXCL13) (CXCR5-CXCL13)

The CXCR5-CXCL13 chemokine axis is a fundamental signaling pathway responsible for the spatial organization of B cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells within lymphoid tissues (UniProt P32302, O43927). CXCL13, the sole ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor CXCR5, is primarily secreted by follicular dendritic cells and stromal cells to guide the migration of CXCR5-expressing lymphocytes into B-cell follicles and germinal centers (Frontiers in Immunology, 2021). This axis is critical for the formation of secondary lymphoid organs and the development of high-affinity antibody responses (MDPI, 2023). In pathological states, dysregulation of this axis leads to the formation of ectopic or tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in non-lymphoid tissues, driving chronic inflammation in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Arthritis Research & Therapy, 2024). Furthermore, the axis is implicated in cancer progression by modulating the tumor microenvironment and promoting metastasis, as well as in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain (NIH, 2022). Therapeutic strategies targeting this axis, such as the monoclonal antibody PF-06835375 against CXCR5 or BIIB013 against CXCL13, aim to disrupt these aberrant immune aggregates and reduce autoantibody production (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03334851).

Other names

Burkitt lymphoma receptor 1 (BLR1)CD185B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC)B-cell-attracting chemokine 1 (BCA-1)B-cell-attracting chemokine 1 (BCA1)B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC1)

Inhibition of ligand-receptor binding, depletion of CXCR5-positive B and Tfh cells, and blocking recruitment of lymphocytes to inflamed tissues or germinal centers.