Pivotal function for cytoplasmic protein FROUNT in CCR2-mediated monocyte chemotaxis

Nat Immunol. 2005 Aug;6(8):827-35. doi: 10.1038/ni1222. Epub 2005 Jul 3.

Abstract

Ligation of the chemokine receptor CCR2 on monocytes and macrophages with its ligand CCL2 results in activation of the cascade consisting of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K), the small G protein Rac and lamellipodium protrusion. We show here that a unique clathrin heavy-chain repeat homology protein, FROUNT, directly bound activated CCR2 and formed clusters at the cell front during chemotaxis. Overexpression of FROUNT amplified the chemokine-elicited PI(3)K-Rac-lamellipodium protrusion cascade and subsequent chemotaxis. Blocking FROUNT function by using a truncated mutant or antisense strategy substantially diminished signaling via CCR2. In a mouse peritonitis model, suppression of endogenous FROUNT markedly prevented macrophage infiltration. Thus, FROUNT links activated CCR2 to the PI(3)K-Rac-lamellipodium protrusion cascade and could be a therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory immune diseases associated with macrophage infiltration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chemotaxis
  • Clathrin Heavy Chains / biosynthesis*
  • Clathrin Heavy Chains / physiology*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammation
  • Ligands
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monocytes / cytology*
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peritonitis / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Receptors, CCR2
  • Receptors, Chemokine / chemistry*
  • Retroviridae / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • CCR2 protein, human
  • Ccr2 protein, mouse
  • DNA, Complementary
  • FROUNT protein, mouse
  • Ligands
  • NUP85 protein, human
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, CCR2
  • Receptors, Chemokine
  • Clathrin Heavy Chains
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF498261
  • GENBANK/AF498263