SDF-1 tells stem cells to mind their P's and Z's

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine with unique functions, including a role in the trafficking of primitive blood precursor cells. A better understanding at a molecular level of how the binding of SDF-1 to its cell surface receptor, CXCR4, elicits specific biological responses in these cells has now been achieved through the identification of PKC-xi activation as a common downstream signal. This firiding suggests that treatment of a variety of clinical conditions might benefit from the targeting of PKC-xi (see the related article beginning on page 168).