Oligomerization State of CXCL4 Chemokines Regulates G Protein-Coupled Receptor Activation

CXCL4 chemokines have antiangiogenic properties, mediated by different mechanisms, including CXCR3 receptor activation. Chemokines have distinct oligomerization states that are correlated with their biological functions. CXCL4 exists as a stable tetramer under physiological conditions. It is unclear whether the oligomerization state impacts CXCL4-receptor interaction. We found that the CXCL4 tetramer is sensitive to pH and salt concentration. Residues Glu28 and Lys50 were important for tetramer formation, and the first β-strand and the C-terminal helix are critical for dimerization. By mutating the critical residues responsible for oligomerization, we generated CXCL4 mutants that behave as dimers or monomers under neutral/physiological conditions. The CXCL4 monomer acts as the minimal active unit for interacting CXCR3A, and sulfation of N-terminal tyrosine residues on the receptor is important for binding. Noticeably, CXCL4L1, a CXCL4 variant that differs by three residues in the C-terminal helix, could activate CXCR3A. CXCL4L1 showed a higher tendency to dissociate into monomers, but native CXCL4 did not. This result indicates that monomeric CXCL4 behaves like CXCL4L1. Thus, in this chemokine family, being in the monomeric state seems critical for interaction with CXCR3A