Hamster CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12), also known as SDF-1 (stromal cell–derived factor-1), is a homeostatic chemokine belonging to the CXC chemokine family that plays a central role in cell migration, immune cell trafficking, and tissue development. In hamsters (commonly Syrian or golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus), CXCL12 is produced by stromal cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and bone marrow niche cells, where it helps regulate the migration and positioning of hematopoietic stem cells, lymphocytes, and other progenitor cells. CXCL12 primarily signals through the receptors CXCR4 and ACKR3 (CXCR7), guiding immune cells and stem cells to specific tissues and supporting hematopoiesis, immune surveillance, and tissue repair. In hamster research models, the CXCL12–CXCR4 signaling axis has been examined in studies of viral infection and tissue inflammation, particularly in Syrian hamster models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, where chemokine-driven immune cell recruitment contributes to lung inflammation and antiviral immune responses. Because hamsters replicate several aspects of human respiratory viral disease, characterization of CXCL12 in this species helps researchers investigate immune cell trafficking, inflammatory signaling, and tissue repair mechanisms in infectious disease and immunology research.