PUBLICATION

Vomocytosis of live pathogens from macrophages is regulated by the atypical MAP kinase ERK5

Authors
Gilbert, A.S., Seoane, P.I., Sephton-Clark, P., Bojarczuk, A., Hotham, R., Giurisato, E., Sarhan, A.R., Hillen, A., Velde, G.V., Gray, N.S., Alessi, D.R., Cunningham, D.L., Tournier, C., Johnston, S.A., May, R.C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-170825-7
Date
2017
Source
Science advances   3: e1700898 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bojarczuk, Aleks, Johnston, Simon
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines/metabolism
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology*
  • Humans
  • Macrophages/drug effects
  • Macrophages/immunology*
  • Macrophages/metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7/metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
28835924 Full text @ Sci Adv
Abstract
Vomocytosis, or nonlytic extrusion, is a poorly understood process through which macrophages release live pathogens that they have failed to kill back into the extracellular environment. Vomocytosis is conserved across vertebrates and occurs with a diverse range of pathogens, but to date, the host signaling events that underpin expulsion remain entirely unknown. We use a targeted inhibitor screen to identify the MAP kinase ERK5 as a critical suppressor of vomocytosis. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic manipulation of ERK5 activity significantly raises vomocytosis rates in human macrophages, whereas stimulation of the ERK5 signaling pathway inhibits vomocytosis. Lastly, using a zebrafish model of cryptococcal disease, we show that reducing ERK5 activity in vivo stimulates vomocytosis and results in reduced dissemination of infection. ERK5 therefore represents the first host signaling regulator of vomocytosis to be identified and a potential target for the future development of vomocytosis-modulating therapies.
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