NEUTROPHIL AND B-CELL EXPANSION IN MICE THAT LACK THE MURINE IL-8 RECEPTOR HOMOLOG

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a preinflammatory cytokine that specifically attracts and activates human neutrophils. A murine gene with a high degree of homology to the two known human IL-8 receptors was cloned and then deleted from the mouse genome by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. These mice, although outwardly healthy, had lymphadenopathy, resulting from an increase in B cells, and splenomegaly, resulting from an increase in metamyelocytes, band, and mature neutrophils. Thus, this receptor may participate in the expansion and development of neutrophils and B cells. This receptor was the major mediator of neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation and may provide a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory disease.