Chemokines

CXCL14 is constitutively expressed in many normal tissues, particularly in epithelial cells. It is highly conserved across vertebrates, with human and mouse CXCL14 differing by only two amino acid residues. The expression of CXCL14 is significantly down-regulated or completely lost in many human cancer specimens and cancerous cell lines . Key biological properties include:

• Expression Patterns: Constitutively expressed in normal tissues, especially in the epithelia.
• Tissue Distribution: Widely expressed in normal tissues, particularly in breast and kidney cells .

CXCL14 plays a crucial role in immune responses and pathogen recognition. It is involved in the regulation of immune cell migration and antimicrobial immunity. CXCL14 is chemotactic for monocytes and can activate these cells in the presence of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2). It is also a potent chemoattractant and activator of dendritic cells, implicated in the homing of these cells, and can stimulate the migration of activated natural killer (NK) cells .

The mechanisms of action of CXCL14 involve interactions with other molecules and cells, binding partners, and downstream signaling cascades. Although the identity of the receptor for CXCL14 remains obscure, it is known to induce intracellular signaling through G protein-coupled cell-surface receptors. CXCL14 inhibits angiogenesis, possibly by blocking endothelial cell chemotaxis .

The regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression and activity of CXCL14 include transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications. CXCL14 expression can be inhibited by inflammatory stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in epithelial tissues. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, also play a role in the regulation of CXCL14 expression in cancer cells .

CXCL14 has several applications in biomedical research, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic strategies. It is used in various assays, including Western Blot, ELISA, and functional assays. CXCL14’s role in immune cell migration and antimicrobial immunity makes it a potential target for therapeutic strategies in cancer and inflammatory diseases .

CXCL14 plays a role throughout the life cycle, from development to aging and disease. It is involved in immune surveillance, inflammation, and tumor development by regulating cell migration. The loss of CXCL14 expression in tumors may facilitate neovascularization and contribute to immunologic escape .