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Cell Reports. Medicine Dec 2022Sperm chemotaxis is required for guiding sperm toward the egg. However, the molecular identity of physiological chemoattractant and its involvement in infertility remain...
Sperm chemotaxis is required for guiding sperm toward the egg. However, the molecular identity of physiological chemoattractant and its involvement in infertility remain elusive. Here, we identify DEFB19/119 (mouse/human orthologs) as a physiological sperm chemoattractant. The epithelia of the female reproductive tract and the cumulus-oocyte complex secrete DEFB19/119 that elicits calcium mobilization via the CatSper channel and induces sperm chemotaxis in capacitated sperm. Manipulating the level of DEFB19 in mice determines the number of sperm arriving at the fertilization site. Importantly, we identify exon mutations in the DEFB119 gene in idiopathic infertile women with low level of DEFB119 in the follicular fluid. The level of DEFB119 correlates with the chemotactic potency of follicular fluid and predicts the infertile outcome with positive correlation. This study reveals the pivotal role of DEFB19/119 in sperm chemotaxis and demonstrates its potential application in the diagnosis of idiopathic infertility.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Animals; Mice; Chemotaxis; beta-Defensins; Infertility, Female; Semen; Spermatozoa; Chemotactic Factors
PubMed: 36513070
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100825 -
Cells Oct 2022Microglia, the main immune modulators of the central nervous system, have key roles in both the developing and adult brain. These functions include shaping healthy... (Review)
Review
Microglia, the main immune modulators of the central nervous system, have key roles in both the developing and adult brain. These functions include shaping healthy neuronal networks, carrying out immune surveillance, mediating inflammatory responses, and disposing of unwanted material. A wide variety of pathological conditions present with microglia dysregulation, highlighting the importance of these cells in both normal brain function and disease. Studies into microglial function in the context of both health and disease thus have the potential to provide tremendous insight across a broad range of research areas. In vitro culture of microglia, using primary cells, cell lines, or induced pluripotent stem cell derived microglia, allows researchers to generate reproducible, robust, and quantifiable data regarding microglia function. A broad range of assays have been successfully developed and optimised for characterizing microglial morphology, mediation of inflammation, endocytosis, phagocytosis, chemotaxis and random motility, and mediation of immunometabolism. This review describes the main functions of microglia, compares existing protocols for measuring these functions in vitro, and highlights common pitfalls and future areas for development. We aim to provide a comprehensive methodological guide for researchers planning to characterise microglial functions within a range of contexts and in vitro models.
Topics: Microglia; Phagocytosis; Chemotaxis; Central Nervous System; Brain
PubMed: 36359810
DOI: 10.3390/cells11213414 -
Journal of Leukocyte Biology Aug 2018From an individual bacterium to the cells that compose the human immune system, cellular chemotaxis plays a fundamental role in allowing cells to navigate, interpret,... (Review)
Review
From an individual bacterium to the cells that compose the human immune system, cellular chemotaxis plays a fundamental role in allowing cells to navigate, interpret, and respond to their environments. While many features of cellular chemotaxis are shared among systems as diverse as bacteria and human immune cells, the machinery that guides the migration of these model organisms varies widely. In this article, we review current literature on the diversity of chemoattractant ligands, the cell surface receptors that detect and process chemotactic gradients, and the link between signal recognition and the regulation of cellular machinery that allow for efficient directed cellular movement. These facets of cellular chemotaxis are compared among E. coli, Dictyostelium discoideum, and mammalian neutrophils to derive organizational principles by which diverse cell systems sense and respond to chemotactic gradients to initiate cellular migration.
Topics: Animals; Chemotaxis; Humans; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 29873835
DOI: 10.1002/JLB.1MR0218-044 -
European Journal of Pharmacology May 2016Mast cells play crucial roles in both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Along with basophils, mast cells are essential effector cells for allergic... (Review)
Review
Mast cells play crucial roles in both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Along with basophils, mast cells are essential effector cells for allergic inflammation that causes asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy and atopic dermatitis. Mast cells are usually increased in inflammatory sites of allergy and, upon activation, release various chemical, lipid, peptide and protein mediators of allergic reactions. Since antigen/immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated activation of these cells is a central event to trigger allergic reactions, innumerable studies have been conducted on how these cells are activated through cross-linking of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI). Development of mature mast cells from their progenitor cells is under the influence of several growth factors, of which the stem cell factor (SCF) seems to be the most important. Therefore, how SCF induces mast cell development and activation via its receptor, KIT, has been studied extensively, including a cross-talk between KIT and FcεRI signaling pathways. Although our understanding of the signaling mechanisms of the FcεRI and KIT pathways is far from complete, pharmaceutical applications of the knowledge about these pathways are underway. This review will focus on recent progresses in FcεRI and KIT signaling and chemotaxis.
Topics: Animals; Chemotaxis; Humans; Mast Cells; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 25941081
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.02.057 -
The European Physical Journal. E, Soft... Mar 2021Bacteria can chemotactically migrate up attractant gradients by controlling run-and-tumble motility patterns. In addition to this well-known chemotactic behaviour,...
Bacteria can chemotactically migrate up attractant gradients by controlling run-and-tumble motility patterns. In addition to this well-known chemotactic behaviour, several soil and marine bacterial species perform chemokinesis; they adjust their swimming speed according to the local concentration of chemoeffector, with higher speed at higher concentration. A field of attractant then induces a spatially varying swimming speed, which results in a drift towards lower attractant concentrations-contrary to the drift created by chemotaxis. Here, to explore the biological benefits of chemokinesis and investigate its impact on the chemotactic response, we extend a Keller-Segel-type model to include chemokinesis. We apply the model to predict the dynamics of bacterial populations capable of chemokinesis and chemotaxis in chemoeffector fields inspired by microfluidic and agar plate migration assays. We find that chemokinesis combined with chemotaxis not only may enhance the population response with respect to pure chemotaxis, but also modifies it qualitatively. We conclude presenting predictions for bacteria around dynamic finite-size nutrient sources, simulating, e.g. a marine particle or a root. We show that chemokinesis can reduce the measuring bias that is created by a decaying attractant gradient.
Topics: Aquatic Organisms; Bacteria; Chemotaxis
PubMed: 33721117
DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00009-w -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Jun 2013The exposure of bacteria to pollutants induces frequently chemoattraction or chemorepellent reactions. Recent research suggests that the capacity to degrade a toxic... (Review)
Review
The exposure of bacteria to pollutants induces frequently chemoattraction or chemorepellent reactions. Recent research suggests that the capacity to degrade a toxic compound has co-evolved in some bacteria with the capacity to chemotactically react to it. There is an increasing amount of data which show that chemoattraction to biodegradable pollutants increases their bioavailability which translates into an enhancement of the biodegradation rate. Pollutant chemoreceptors so far identified are encoded on degradation or resistance plasmids. Genetic engineering of bacteria, such as the transfer of chemoreceptor genes, offers thus the possibility to optimize biodegradation processes.
Topics: Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological Availability; Chemotaxis; Environmental Pollutants; Genetic Engineering; Kinetics
PubMed: 22981870
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.08.011 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Apr 2020Neutrophil chemotaxis plays a vital role in human immune system. Compared with traditional cell migration assays, the emergence of microfluidics provides a new research... (Review)
Review
Neutrophil chemotaxis plays a vital role in human immune system. Compared with traditional cell migration assays, the emergence of microfluidics provides a new research platform of cell chemotaxis study due to the advantages of visualization, precise control of chemical gradient, and small consumption of reagents. A series of microfluidic devices have been fabricated to study the behavior of neutrophils exposed on controlled, stable, and complex profiles of chemical concentration gradients. In addition, microfluidic technology offers a promising way to integrate the other functions, such as cell culture, separation and analysis into a single chip. Therefore, an overview of recent developments in microfluidic-based neutrophil chemotaxis studies is presented. Meanwhile, the strength and drawbacks of these devices are compared.
Topics: Chemotaxis; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidics; Neutrophils
PubMed: 32293474
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02335-7 -
The FEBS Journal May 2022Directed cell migration is essential for cells to efficiently migrate in physiological and pathological processes. While migrating in their native environment, cells... (Review)
Review
Directed cell migration is essential for cells to efficiently migrate in physiological and pathological processes. While migrating in their native environment, cells interact with multiple types of cues, such as mechanical and chemical signals. The role of chemical guidance via chemotaxis has been studied in the past, the understanding of mechanical guidance of cell migration via durotaxis remained unclear until very recently. Nonetheless, durotaxis has become a topic of intensive research and several advances have been made in the study of mechanically guided cell migration across multiple fields. Thus, in this article we provide a state of the art about durotaxis by discussing in silico, in vitro and in vivo data. We also present insights on the general mechanisms by which cells sense, transduce and respond to environmental mechanics, to then contextualize these mechanisms in the process of durotaxis and explain how cells bias their migration in anisotropic substrates. Furthermore, we discuss what is known about durotaxis in vivo and we comment on how haptotaxis could arise from integrating durotaxis and chemotaxis in native environments.
Topics: Cell Movement; Chemotaxis
PubMed: 33811732
DOI: 10.1111/febs.15862 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2021It has been experimentally reported that chemotactic cells exhibit cellular memory, that is, a tendency to maintain the migration direction despite changes in the...
It has been experimentally reported that chemotactic cells exhibit cellular memory, that is, a tendency to maintain the migration direction despite changes in the chemoattractant gradient. In this study, we analyzed a phenomenological model assuming the presence of cellular inertia, as well as a response time in motility, resulting in the reproduction of the cellular memory observed in the previous experiments. According to the analysis, the cellular motion is described by the superposition of multiple oscillative functions induced by the multiplication of the oscillative polarity and motility. The cellular intertia generates cellular memory by regulating phase differences between those oscillative functions. By applying the theory to the experimental data, the cellular inertia was estimated at [Formula: see text] min. In addition, physiological parameters, such as response time in motility and intracellular processing speed, were also evaluated. The agreement between the experiemental data and theory suggests the possibility of the presence of the response time in motility, which has never been biologically verified and should be explored in the future.
Topics: Algorithms; Animals; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Chemotaxis; Dictyostelium; Humans; Models, Biological
PubMed: 34893617
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02384-y -
Microbial Biotechnology Dec 2023
Topics: Chemotaxis; Bacteria
PubMed: 37387327
DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14306