Since the discovery that CXCR7 binds to CXCL12/SDF-1α, the role of CXCR7 in CXCL12-mediated biological processes has been under intensive scrutiny. However, there is no consensus in the literature on the expression of CXCR7 protein by peripheral blood cells. In this study we analyzed human and mouse leukocytes and erythrocytes for CXCR7 protein expression, using a competitive CXCL12 binding assay as well as by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry using multiple CXCR7 Abs. CXCR7−/− mice were used as negative controls. Together, these methods indicate that CXCR7 protein is not expressed by human peripheral blood T cells, B cells, NK cells, or monocytes, or by mouse peripheral blood leukocytes. CXCR7 protein is, however, expressed on mouse primitive erythroid cells, which supply oxygen to the embryo during early stages of development. These studies therefore suggest that, whereas CXCR7 protein is expressed by primitive RBCs during murine embryonic development, in adult mammals CXCR7 protein is not expressed by normal peripheral blood cells.

Road dust resuspension is a major source of particulate matter in many urban centers, especially those in which traction materials are applied to roadways in winter. Although many studies have investigated the composition and toxicity of road dust, nothing is currently known regarding its photochemical reactivity. Here, we show for the first time that road dust is photochemically active: in particular, we use a molecular probe technique to show that the illumination of aqueous road dust suspensions leads to the production of singlet oxygen (1O2), an important environmental oxidant. In experiments conducted using size-fractionated road dust, we found that the surface area-normalized steady-state 1O2 concentration ([1O2]ss) increased with decreasing particle size. We also observed correlations between [1O2]ss and the dissolved organic carbon content and ultraviolet absorbance properties of dust extracts, which suggests the involvement of chromophoric water-soluble organic carbon in the observed photochemistry. Interestingly, [1O2]ss in aqueous road dust extracts was lower than in the corresponding particle-containing samples, which implies that the particle surface itself also participated in 1O2 production. This work provides evidence that road dust photochemistry may influence the lifetime of urban pollutants that react via 1O2-mediated pathways.

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