A role for Cdc42 in macrophage chemotaxis

William Allen, D. Zicha, A.J. Ridley, G.E. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

452 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Three members of the Rho family, Cdc42, Rac, and Rho are known to regulate the organization of actin-based cytoskeletal structures. In Bac1.2F5 macrophages, we have shown that Rho regulates cell contraction, whereas Rac and Cdc42 regulate the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia, respectively. We have now tested the roles of Cdc42, Rac, and Rho in colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)-induced macrophage migration and chemotaxis using the Dunn chemotaxis chamber. Microinjection of constitutively activated RhoA, Rac1, or Cdc42 inhibited cell migration, presumably because the cells were unable to polarize significantly in response to CSF-1. Both Rho and Rac were required for CSF-1-induced migration, since migration speed was reduced to background levels in cells injected with C3 transferase, an inhibitor of Rho, or with the dominant-negative Rac mutant, N17Rac1. In contrast, cells injected with the dominant-negative Cdc42 mutant, N17Cdc42, were able to migrate but did not polarize in the direction of the gradient, and chemotaxis towards CSF-1 was abolished.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1147-1157
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume141
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jun 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A role for Cdc42 in macrophage chemotaxis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this