Trp-Arg-Trp-Trp-Trp-Trp antagonizes formyl peptide receptor like 2-mediated signaling

Although formyl peptide receptor like 2 (FPRL2) has been regarded as an important classical chemoattractant receptor, its functional role and signaling pathway have not been fully investigated, because of the lack of its specific ligand. Recently F2L, a heme-binding protein fragment peptide, has been reported as an FPRL2-selective endogenous agonist. In the present study, we examined the effect of Trp-Arg-Trp-Trp-Trp-Trp-CONH2 (WRWWWW, WRW4), on F2L-induced cell signaling. WRW4 inhibited the activation of FPRL2 by F2L, resulting in the complete inhibition of intracellular calcium increase and chemotactic migration induced by F2L. WRW4 also completely inhibited F2L-induced NF-kappaB activation in FPRL2-transfected HEK293 cells. WRW4 specifically inhibited F2L-induced intracellular calcium increase and chemotactic migration in mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells, which express FPRL2 but not the other FPR family. Taken together, WRW4 is the first FPRL2 antagonist and is expected to be useful in the study of FPRL2 signaling and in development of drugs against FPRL2-related cellular responses.