Premium
Cytoskeleton plays a dual role of activation and inhibition in myelin and zymosan phagocytosis by microglia
Author(s) -
Gitik Miri,
Reichert Fanny,
Rotshenker Shlomo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.09-146118
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , zymosan , microglia , dual (grammatical number) , microbiology and biotechnology , dual role , chemistry , cytoskeleton , myelin , neuroscience , immunology , biology , cell , inflammation , biochemistry , in vitro , central nervous system , art , literature , combinatorial chemistry
A major innate immune function of microglia in the central nervous system is receptor‐mediated phagocytosis of tissue debris and pathogens. We studied how phagocytosis of degenerated myelin ( i.e. , tissue debris) and zymosan ( i.e. , yeast pathogen) is regulated by the cytoskeleton through myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and the small GTPase Rho and its effector Rho‐kinase (ROCK) in primary mouse microglia. Our observations suggest a dual role of activation and inhibition of phagocytosis by MLCK and Rho/ ROCK signaling. MLCK activated, whereas Rho/ROCK down‐regulated complement receptor‐3 (CR3) mediated, phagocytosis of C3bi‐opsonized and nonopsonized myelin. These opposing roles of MLCK and Rho/ROCK depended on the preferential spatial localization of their distinctive functions. MLCK further activated, and Rho/ROCK down‐regulated, phagocytosis of nonopsonized zymosan by nonopsonic receptors ( e.g. , Dectin‐1). In contrast, MLCK down‐regulated, but Rho/ROCK activated, CR3‐mediated phagocytosis of C3bi‐opsonized zymosan. Thus MLCK and Rho/ROCK can each activate or inhibit phagocytosis but always act in opposition. Whether activation or inhibition occurs depends on the nature of the phagocytosed particle (C3bi‐opsonized or nonopsonized myelin or zymosan) and the receptors mediating each phagocytosis.—Gitik, M., Reichert, F., Rotshenker, S. Cytoskeleton plays a dual role of activation and inhibition in myelin and zymosan phagocytosis by microglia. FASEB J. 24, 2211–2221 (2010). www.fasebj.org