Defective lymphocyte chemotaxis in β-arrestin2- and GRK6-deficient mice

Lymphocyte chemotaxis is a complex process by which cells move within tissues and across barriers such as vascular endothelium and is usually stimulated by chemokines such as stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12) acting via G protein-coupled receptors. Because members of this receptor family are regulated (“desensitized”) by G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)-mediated receptor phosphorylation and β-arrestin binding, we examined signaling and chemotactic responses in splenocytes derived from knockout mice deficient in various β-arrestins and GRKs, with the expectation that these responses might be enhanced. Knockouts of β-arrestin2, GRK5, and GRK6 were examined because all three proteins are expressed at high levels in purified mouse CD3+ T and B220+ B splenocytes. CXCL12 stimulation of membrane GTPase activity was unaffected in splenocytes derived from GRK5-deficient mice but was increased in splenocytes from the β-arrestin2- and GRK6-deficient animals. Surprisingly, however, both T and B cells from β-arrestin2-deficient animals and T cells from GRK6-deficient animals were strikingly impaired in their ability to respond to CXCL12 both in transwell migration assays and in transendothelial migration assays. Chemotactic responses of lymphocytes from GRK5-deficient mice were unaffected. Thus, these results indicate that β-arrestin2 and GRK6 actually play positive regulatory roles in mediating the chemotactic responses of T and B lymphocytes to CXCL12.