CXCL13

Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13 (CXCL13) is a small cytokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that is also known as B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC). As its name suggests, this chemokine is selectively chemotactic for B cells belonging to both the B-1 and B-2 subsets, and elicits its effects by interacting with chemokine receptor CXCR5. CXCL13 and its receptor CXCR5 control the organization of B cells within follicles of lymphoid tissues. This chemokine is secreted by dendritic cells, and is expressed highly the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and gut of humans. The gene for CXCL13 is located on human chromosome 4 in a cluster of other CXC chemokines.

In T-lymphocytes, CXC13 expression is thought to reflect a germinal center orgin of the T-cell. Hence, expression of CXC13 in T-cell lymphomas, such as Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, is thought to reflect a germinal center origin of the neoplastic T-cells.