Regulators of immune cell ‘walking’
Nature Immunology
May 17, 2010
Molecular regulators of immune cell ‘walking’ through tissues are identified in a report published online this week in Nature Immunology.
Immune cells travel in the blood and can enter tissues as a result of signals released during infection or inflammation. Upon exiting the bloodstream, cells morph from a round shape into an elongated form that can move in an inchworm or crawling manner into the tissue. Such directional movement in the infected tissue requires a precise coordination of ‘stepping forward’ and ‘release’.
Andy Luster and colleagues identify several new regulatory molecules called synatotagmins (SYT) that are necessary for the cell ‘foot’ to step forward and release such that migration occurs. These molecules are sensitive to calcium fluxes that occur inside migrating cells that respond to chemical ‘scents’ known as chemoattractants. Cells lacking either SYT7 or a related synatotagmin-like molecule SYTL5 fail to move and behave as if the trailing foot is stuck and unable to release. Cells lacking SYT2 move faster and display defects in stopping.
In a gout disease model mice lacking SYT7 recruit fewer inflammatory cells into the affected tissue. The scientists suggest these defects may be related to a human immunodeficiency disease called Chediak-Higashi syndrome where immune cells display defective migration.
doi: 10.1038/ni.1878
Research highlights
-
Jun 24
Palaeontology: It sucked to be the prey of ancient cephalopodsScientific Reports
-
Jun 24
Sport science: New wearable sensor to measure neck strain may detect potential concussionScientific Reports
-
Jun 23
Scientific community: Women credited less than men in scientific paper authorshipNature
-
Jun 17
Health technology: New cost-effective smartphone test for middle ear functionCommunications Medicine
-
Jun 17
Conservation: Feral cats pushing critically endangered marsupial further towards extinctionScientific Reports
-
Jun 16
Microbiology: DNA analysis indicates origins of the Black DeathNature