The role of grancalcin in adhesion of neutrophils

Cell Immunol. 2006 Apr;240(2):116-21. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2006.07.004. Epub 2006 Aug 28.

Abstract

Grancalcin is a protein specifically expressed in neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages. The function of grancalcin has not been identified. Grancalcin-deficient neutrophils were previously demonstrated to exert normal recruitment to the inflamed site, NADPH oxidase activation, extracellular release of secondary granules, apoptosis and activation-induced Ca2+ flux. In this study we analyzed granule numbers in resting and activated grancalcin-deficient neutrophils, their phagocytic activity and adherence to extracellular matrix proteins. Results revealed normal phagocytosis and degranulation of grancalcin-deficient neutrophils, while their adhesion to fibronectin was decreased by 60%. Consistently, the processes associated with neutrophil adhesion, such as formation of focal adhesion complexes and spreading, were also impaired in grancalcin-deficient neutrophils by 89 and 38%, respectively. In contrast, adherence to other extracellular matrix proteins: collagen, laminin and vitronectin, was not significantly altered. We thus report for the first time a function of grancalcin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Shape / genetics
  • Cell Shape / physiology
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / genetics
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesions / genetics
  • Focal Adhesions / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Neutrophils / cytology*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / ultrastructure
  • Phagocytosis / genetics
  • Phagocytosis / physiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Gca protein, mouse
  • Fibrinogen