Role of CXCR3 carboxyl terminus and third intracellular loop in receptor-mediated migration, adhesion and internalization in response to CXCL11

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is predominantly expressed on activated T and natural killer (NK) cells. CXCR3 and its ligands, CXCL11, CXCL10, and CXCL9, play a major role in T-helper 1 (Th1)-dependent inflammatory responses. CXCL11 is the most dominant physiological inducer of adhesion, migration, and internalization of CXCR3. To study the role of CXCR3 carboxyl-terminus and the third intracellular (3i) loop in chemokine-mediated migration, adhesion, and CXCR3 internalization, we generated CXCR3 receptors mutated in their distal (Ser-Thr domain) or proximal (trileucine domain) membrane carboxyl terminus, and/or the third intracellular loop. We found that migration of CXCR3-expressing HEK 293 cells toward CXCL11 was pertussis toxin-dependent and required the membrane proximal carboxyl terminus of CXCR3. Internalization induced by CXCL11 and protein kinase C (PKC) activation was also regulated by the membrane proximal carboxyl terminus; however, only CXCL11-induced internalization required the LLL motif of this region. Internalization and Ca²⁺ flux induced by CXCL11 were independent of the 3i loop S245, whereas migration at high CXCL11 concentrations, integrin-dependent adhesion, and actin polymerization were S245 dependent. Our findings indicate that CXCL11-dependent CXCR3 internalization and cell migration are regulated by the CXCR3 membrane proximal carboxyl terminus, whereas adhesion is regulated by the 3i loop S245. Thus, distinct conformational changes induced by a given CXCR3 ligand trigger different downstream effectors of adhesion, motility, and CXCR3 desensitization.