Disruption of Cxcr3 chemotactic signaling alters lysosomal function and renders macrophages more microbicidal

Frida Sommer, Vincenzo Torraca, Yufei Xie, Aliede E. in ‘t Veld, Joost Willemse, Annemarie H. Meijer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chemotaxis and lysosomal function are closely intertwined processes essential for the inflammatory response and clearance of intracellular bacteria. We used the zebrafish model to examine the link between chemotactic signaling and lysosome physiology in macrophages during mycobacterial infection and wound-induced inflammation in vivo. Macrophages from zebrafish larvae carrying a mutation in a chemokine receptor of the Cxcr3 family display upregulated expression of vesicle trafficking and lysosomal genes and possess enlarged lysosomes that enhance intracellular bacterial clearance. This increased microbicidal capacity is phenocopied by inhibiting the lysosomal transcription factor EC, while its overexpression counteracts the protective effect of chemokine receptor mutation. Tracking macrophage migration in zebrafish revealed that lysosomes of chemokine receptor mutants accumulate in the front half of cells, preventing macrophage polarization during chemotaxis and reaching sites of inflammation. Our work shows that chemotactic signaling affects the bactericidal properties and localization during chemotaxis, key aspects of the inflammatory response.

Original languageEnglish
Article number109000
JournalCell Reports
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Apr 2021

Keywords

  • chemotaxis
  • infection
  • inflammation
  • lysosome
  • macrophage
  • mycobacteria
  • vesicle
  • zebrafish

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Disruption of Cxcr3 chemotactic signaling alters lysosomal function and renders macrophages more microbicidal'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this