Differential regulation of Rab GTPase expression in monocyte-derived dendritic cells upon lipopolysaccharide activation: a correlation to maturation-dependent functional properties

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 5;8(9):e73538. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073538. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The regulation of Rab expression to modulate cellular function has recently been proposed. Dendritic cells are a prototypic example of cells that drastically alter their function in response to environmental cues by reducing endocytosis, secreting cytokines, changing surface protein repertoires and altering morphology and migration. This is not a binary event, but is subject to fluctuations through the activation process, termed maturation. Consequently, DCs transiently increase endocytosis and production of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, and secrete inflammatory cytokines in infected tissues before migrating to secondary lymph nodes and releasing T cell polarizing factors. All these cellular processes rely on intracellular membrane transport, which is regulated by Rab family GTPases and their diverse effectors. Here we examine how the Rabs likely to be involved in these functions are regulated throughout DC maturation. We find that Rab expression is altered upon lipopolysaccharide-induced activation, and discuss how this correlates to the reported functions of these cells during maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Endocytosis
  • Exocytosis
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology*
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding

Funding provided by University of Oslo, Norwegian Research council and the Norwegian Cancer Society. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.