CXCL12

CXCL12 is one of a number of chemokines involved in the immune response, however they can also be involved in communications between cells. This report also suggests that, as per it’s title, CXCL12 alone is enough to reprogram normal fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts.

CXCL12 (also known as stromal cell–derived factor-1 (SDF-1) secreted by CAFs is crucial for tumour metastasis and immunosuppression, although the role of CXCL12 in the tumour microenvironment is not yet well defined. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a critical in cancer progression as they can enhance tumour growth and metastasis and can convert normal fibroblasts to CAFs through the CXCL12/STAT3 signalling axis. Blocking the CXCL12 /STAT3 pathway was shown to  allow CAFs to revert to normal fibroblasts and thus is of interest as a potential target for CXCL12 dependent malignancies.  

CXCL12 is suggested to be linked to the PD-L1/PD1 pathway, and it may control the expression of PD-L1, thereby affecting efficacy of immune therapies targeted to encourage the immune system to fight the tumour. Induced blockage of the CXCR4/CXCL12 ligand pair seems to restore sensitivity to PD-1 and CTLA-4 therapies. Inhibition of CXCL12 has been shown to increase the presence of tumour infiltrating T cells.

An aberrant CXCL12 methylation pattern has been linked with a poorer prognosis for patients with either low or high PD-L1with normal methylation patterns.  

Selected tools to help you study CXCL12 from our Product Managers – more available on our website & through 2BFound!

Methylation detection

EpiMelt CXCL12 methylation with MS-HRM to assess methylation of CXCL12

IHC

Human, Mouse & rat reactive antibodies.

Vectors in AAV delivery system

Over-expression AAV

Human AAV-206331 CXCL12

Mouse AAV-256397 CXCL12

shRNA silencing AAV

Human   shAAV-206331

Mouse    shAAV-256397