Abstract
An innate immune cell can sense a pathogen, either from a distance by recognizing chemoattractant stimuli or by direct physical contact. The pathogen is subsequently neutralized, which usually occurs through its phagocytic internalization. By investigating chemotaxis and phagocytosis from an immunophysical single-cell perspective, it now appears that the demarcation between these two processes is less distinct than originally thought. Several lines of evidence support this notion. First, chemotactic stimulation does not cease at the moment of initial contact between the cell and the pathogenic target. Second, even when classical chemotaxis of neutrophils is suppressed, the early cell response to contact with typical chemoattractant targets, such as zymosan, fungal spores or chemokine-coated particles, can still involve morphological attributes of chemotaxis. Recognizing that the changing morphology of motile cells is inextricably linked to physical cell behavior, this Commentary focuses on the mechanical aspects of the early response of innate immune cells to chemotactic and phagocytic stimuli. On the basis of this perspective, we propose that the combined study of chemotaxis and phagocytosis will, potentially, not only advance our grasp of the mechanisms underlying immune-cell motility but also open new lines of research that will promote a deeper understanding of the innate recognition of pathogens.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3041-3051 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Cell Science |
| Volume | 124 |
| Issue number | 18 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 15 2011 |
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Keywords
- Cell motility
- Chemotaxis
- Immunophysics
- Innate immune recognition
- Micropipette manipulation
- Phagocytosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Blurred line between chemotactic chase and phagocytic consumption : An immunophysical single-cell perspective. / Heinrich, Volkmar; Lee, Cheng Yuk.
In: Journal of Cell Science, Vol. 124, No. 18, 15.09.2011, p. 3041-3051.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Blurred line between chemotactic chase and phagocytic consumption
T2 - An immunophysical single-cell perspective
AU - Heinrich, Volkmar
AU - Lee, Cheng Yuk
PY - 2011/9/15
Y1 - 2011/9/15
N2 - An innate immune cell can sense a pathogen, either from a distance by recognizing chemoattractant stimuli or by direct physical contact. The pathogen is subsequently neutralized, which usually occurs through its phagocytic internalization. By investigating chemotaxis and phagocytosis from an immunophysical single-cell perspective, it now appears that the demarcation between these two processes is less distinct than originally thought. Several lines of evidence support this notion. First, chemotactic stimulation does not cease at the moment of initial contact between the cell and the pathogenic target. Second, even when classical chemotaxis of neutrophils is suppressed, the early cell response to contact with typical chemoattractant targets, such as zymosan, fungal spores or chemokine-coated particles, can still involve morphological attributes of chemotaxis. Recognizing that the changing morphology of motile cells is inextricably linked to physical cell behavior, this Commentary focuses on the mechanical aspects of the early response of innate immune cells to chemotactic and phagocytic stimuli. On the basis of this perspective, we propose that the combined study of chemotaxis and phagocytosis will, potentially, not only advance our grasp of the mechanisms underlying immune-cell motility but also open new lines of research that will promote a deeper understanding of the innate recognition of pathogens.
AB - An innate immune cell can sense a pathogen, either from a distance by recognizing chemoattractant stimuli or by direct physical contact. The pathogen is subsequently neutralized, which usually occurs through its phagocytic internalization. By investigating chemotaxis and phagocytosis from an immunophysical single-cell perspective, it now appears that the demarcation between these two processes is less distinct than originally thought. Several lines of evidence support this notion. First, chemotactic stimulation does not cease at the moment of initial contact between the cell and the pathogenic target. Second, even when classical chemotaxis of neutrophils is suppressed, the early cell response to contact with typical chemoattractant targets, such as zymosan, fungal spores or chemokine-coated particles, can still involve morphological attributes of chemotaxis. Recognizing that the changing morphology of motile cells is inextricably linked to physical cell behavior, this Commentary focuses on the mechanical aspects of the early response of innate immune cells to chemotactic and phagocytic stimuli. On the basis of this perspective, we propose that the combined study of chemotaxis and phagocytosis will, potentially, not only advance our grasp of the mechanisms underlying immune-cell motility but also open new lines of research that will promote a deeper understanding of the innate recognition of pathogens.
KW - Cell motility
KW - Chemotaxis
KW - Immunophysics
KW - Innate immune recognition
KW - Micropipette manipulation
KW - Phagocytosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80054016401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80054016401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1242/jcs.086413
DO - 10.1242/jcs.086413
M3 - Article
C2 - 21914817
AN - SCOPUS:80054016401
VL - 124
SP - 3041
EP - 3051
JO - Journal of Cell Science
JF - Journal of Cell Science
SN - 0021-9533
IS - 18
ER -