BCA-1/CXCL13, Human - 20μg

CXCL13, also known as B-lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC), is a CXC chemokine that is constitutively expressed in secondary lymphoid organs. BCA-1 cDNA encodes a protein of 109 amino acid residues with a leader sequence of 22 residues. Mature human BCA-1 shares 64% amino acid sequence similarity with the mouse protein and 23 - 34% amino acid sequence identity with other known CXC chemokines. Recombinant or chemically synthesized BCA-1 is a potent chemoattractant for B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes, monocytes or neutrophils. BLR1, a G protein-coupled receptor originally isolated from Burkitt’s lymphoma cells, has now been shown to be the specific receptor for BCA-1. Among cells of the hematopoietic lineages, the expression of BLR1, now designated CXCR5, is restricted to B lymphocytes and a subpopulation of T helper memory cells. Mice lacking BLR1 have been shown to lack inguinal lymph nodes. These mice were also found to have impaired development of Peyer's patches and defective form