Genomic structure of eight porcine chemokine receptors and intergene sharing of an exon between CCR1 and XCR1

We completely sequenced a 516,013-bp portion of the porcine genome that encompassed a cluster of genes for chemokine (C-C motif) receptors (CC chemokine receptors). We identified genes for six CC chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, CCR9, and CCRL2) and two other chemokine receptors (CXCR6 and XCR1) in this region. Clarification of the entire structure of the region and the respective genes revealed their high conservation among human, mouse, and pig. Interestingly, much of the 5′UTR of porcine XCR1 shared an identical sequence with CCR1; this sharing does not occur in humans or mice. This finding suggests a mechanism for posttranscriptional switching of tandem-located genes in mammals that depends on alternative splicing. Furthermore, our findings contribute to analyses of lymphocyte trafficking and the functions of immune cells in pigs and other artiodactyls.