Different requirements for early and late phases of azurophilic granule-phagosome fusion

Traffic. 2009 Dec;10(12):1881-93. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2009.00986.x. Epub 2009 Sep 14.

Abstract

Phagocytosis and killing of microorganisms are complex processes that involve tightly regulated membrane traffic events. Because many signaling molecules associate with membrane rafts and because these structures can be found on azurophilic granules, we decided to investigate raft recruitment and the signaling requirements for azurophilic granule secretion during phagosome maturation. At the site of phagocytosis of immunoglobulin G-opsonized prey in human neutrophils, we found that early secretion of azurophilic granules was both raft- and calcium-dependent. Subsequently, rafts at the phagocytic site were internalized with the prey. At the fully formed phagosome, the fusion of azurophilic granules was no longer dependent on rafts or calcium. These findings were found to be true also when using Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria as prey, and depletion of calcium affected the kinetics of bacterial intracellular survival. These findings suggest that the mechanisms for delivery of azurophilic content to nascent and sealed phagosomes, respectively, differ in their dependence on calcium and membrane rafts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism*
  • G(M1) Ganglioside / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Membrane Fusion*
  • Phagocytosis
  • Phagosomes / metabolism*
  • Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Streptococcus pyogenes / immunology
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Tetraspanin 30

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CD63 protein, human
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Tetraspanin 30
  • G(M1) Ganglioside
  • Cholesterol
  • Calcium