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Rho kinase is required for CCR7‐mediated polarization and chemotaxis of T lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Bardi Giuseppe,
Niggli Verena,
Loetscher Pius
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00351-x
Subject(s) - chemotaxis , microbiology and biotechnology , ccl19 , mapk/erk pathway , ccl21 , chemistry , kinase , chemokine , signal transduction , c c chemokine receptor type 7 , chemokine receptor , biology , receptor , biochemistry
We studied the role of Rho kinase and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐2 in the polarization and migration of T lymphocytes in response to the CCR7 ligands EBI1 ligand chemokine (ELC; CCL19) and secondary lymphoid‐tissue chemokine (SLC; CCL21). Both Rho kinase protein isoforms are expressed in T lymphocytes. Inhibition of the Rho kinases with Y‐27632 strongly inhibited SLC‐ and ELC‐induced polarized morphology and chemotaxis of T lymphocytes. Although the chemokines induced ERK‐2 activation, the blockade of this signaling pathway showed no effect on polarization and migration. This study indicates an important role of Rho kinase in CCR7‐mediated polarization and migration of T lymphocytes, whereas ERK‐2 is not involved in these processes.