Back to Search Start Over

T cell migration requires ion and water influx to regulate actin polymerization.

Authors :
de Boer LL
Vanes L
Melgrati S
Biggs O'May J
Hayward D
Driscoll PC
Day J
Griffiths A
Magueta R
Morrell A
MacRae JI
Köchl R
Tybulewicz VLJ
Source :
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2023 Dec 06; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 7844. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Dec 06.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Migration of T cells is essential for their ability to mount immune responses. Chemokine-induced T cell migration requires WNK1, a kinase that regulates ion influx into the cell. However, it is not known why ion entry is necessary for T cell movement. Here we show that signaling from the chemokine receptor CCR7 leads to activation of WNK1 and its downstream pathway at the leading edge of migrating CD4 <superscript>+</superscript> T cells, resulting in ion influx and water entry by osmosis. We propose that WNK1-induced water entry is required to swell the membrane at the leading edge, generating space into which actin filaments can polymerize, thereby facilitating forward movement of the cell. Given the broad expression of WNK1 pathway proteins, our study suggests that ion and water influx are likely to be essential for migration in many cell types, including leukocytes and metastatic tumor cells.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2041-1723
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Nature communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38057317
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43423-8