Fraktalkine
Fraktalkine, or CX3CL1, is a chemokine of the CX3C family. It is unique among chemokines because it exists in two forms: a membrane-anchored protein with a mucin-like stalk that can promote cell adhesion, and a soluble chemokine produced when the extracellular portion is shed by metalloproteases such as ADAM10 and ADAM17. The CX3CL1 gene encodes the protein and is widely expressed, with prominent expression by neurons in the central nervous system and by endothelial cells in peripheral tissues.
Fraktalkine signals through its receptor CX3CR1, a G protein-coupled receptor expressed on monocytes, natural killer cells,
In the CNS, neuron-derived fractalkine participates in neuron-microglia communication and helps regulate microglial activation and surveillance
Dysregulation of CX3CL1–CX3CR1 signaling has been associated with several diseases. In neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's