CC chemokine receptor 7 contributes to Gi-dependent T cell motility in the lymph node

Naive T cells migrate extensively within lymph node (LN) T zones to scan for Ag-bearing dendritic cells. However, the extracellular signals controlling T cell motility in LNs are not well defined. In this study, by real-time imaging of LNs, we show that the inhibition of Gi signaling in T cells severely impairs their migration. The chemokine CCL21, a ligand of CCR7, strongly induces chemokinesis in vitro, and T cell motility in LNs from CCR7 ligand-deficient plt/plt mice was reduced. CCR7-deficient T cells in wild-type LNs showed a similar reduction in motility, and antagonism of CXCR4 function did not further decrease their motility. The effect of CCR7 or CCR7-ligand deficiency could account for similar to 40% of the Gi-dependent motility. These results reveal a role for CCR7 in promoting T cell migration within lymphoid organ T zones, and they suggest the additional involvement of novel Gi-coupled receptors in promoting T cell motility at these sites.