Dendritic cell motility and T cell activation requires regulation of Rho-cofilin signaling by the Rho-GTPase activating protein myosin IXb

J Immunol. 2014 Apr 15;192(8):3559-68. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300695. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

Abstract

Directed migration of stimulated dendritic cells (DCs) to secondary lymphoid organs and their interaction with Ag-specific T cells is a prerequisite for the induction of primary immune responses. In this article, we show that murine DCs that lack myosin IXB (Myo9b), a motorized negative regulator of RhoA signaling, exhibit increased Rho signaling activity and downstream acto-myosin contractility, and inactivation of the Rho target protein cofilin, an actin-depolymerizing factor. On a functional level, Myo9b(-/-) DCs showed impaired directed migratory activity both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, despite unaltered Ag presentation and costimulatory capabilities, Myo9b(-/-) DCs were poor T cell stimulators in vitro in a three-dimensional collagen matrix and in vivo, associated with altered DC-T cell contact dynamics and T cell polarization. Accordingly, Myo9b(-/-) mice showed an attenuated ear-swelling response in a model of contact hypersensitivity. The impaired migratory and T cell stimulatory capacity of Myo9b(-/-) DCs was restored in large part by pharmacological activation of cofilin. Taken together, these results identify Myo9b as a negative key regulator of the Rho/RhoA effector Rho-kinase [Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming kinase (ROCK)]/LIM domain kinase signaling pathway in DCs, which controls cofilin inactivation and myosin II activation and, therefore may control, in part, the induction of adaptive immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Dermatitis, Contact / genetics
  • Dermatitis, Contact / immunology
  • Dermatitis, Contact / metabolism
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myosins / genetics
  • Myosins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actin Depolymerizing Factors
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • myosin IXB
  • rho GTPase-activating protein
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • Myosins