scholarly journals Vav GEFs are required for β2 integrin-dependent functions of neutrophils

2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Angelica Martinez Gakidis ◽  
Xavier Cullere ◽  
Timothy Olson ◽  
Julie L. Wilsbacher ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
...  

Integrin regulation of neutrophils is essential for appropriate adhesion and transmigration into tissues. Vav proteins are Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factors that become tyrosine phosphorylated in response to adhesion. Using Vav1/Vav3-deficient neutrophils (Vav1/3ko), we show that Vav proteins are required for multiple β2 integrin-dependent functions, including sustained adhesion, spreading, and complement-mediated phagocytosis. These defects are not attributable to a lack of initial β2 activation as Vav1/3ko neutrophils undergo chemoattractant-induced arrest on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 under flow. Accordingly, in vivo, Vav1/3ko leukocytes arrest on venular endothelium yet are unable to sustain adherence. Thus, Vav proteins are specifically required for stable adhesion. β2-induced activation of Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA is defective in Vav1/3ko neutrophils, and phosphorylation of Pyk2, paxillin, and Akt is also significantly reduced. In contrast, Vav proteins are largely dispensable for G protein-coupled receptor–induced signaling events and chemotaxis. Thus, Vav proteins play an essential role coupling β2 to Rho GTPases and regulating multiple integrin-induced events important in leukocyte adhesion and phagocytosis.

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Wang ◽  
Mo Wang ◽  
Yi-Hua Zhu ◽  
Timothy W. Grosel ◽  
Daokun Sun ◽  
...  

Rho GTPases, activated by Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), are conserved molecular switches for signal transductions that regulate diverse cellular processes, including cell polarization and cytokinesis. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has six Rho GTPases (Cdc42 and Rho1–Rho5) and seven Rho GEFs (Scd1, Rgf1–Rgf3, and Gef1–Gef3). The GEFs for Rho2–Rho5 have not been unequivocally assigned. In particular, Gef3, the smallest Rho GEF, was barely studied. Here we show that Gef3 colocalizes with septins at the cell equator. Gef3 physically interacts with septins and anillin Mid2 and depends on them to localize. Gef3 coprecipitates with GDP-bound Rho4 in vitro and accelerates nucleotide exchange of Rho4, suggesting that Gef3 is a GEF for Rho4. Consistently, Gef3 and Rho4 are in the same genetic pathways to regulate septum formation and/or cell separation. In gef3∆ cells, the localizations of two potential Rho4 effectors—glucanases Eng1 and Agn1—are abnormal, and active Rho4 level is reduced, indicating that Gef3 is involved in Rho4 activation in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of active Rho4 or Eng1 rescues the septation defects of mutants containing gef3∆. Together our data support that Gef3 interacts with the septin complex and activates Rho4 GTPase as a Rho GEF for septation in fission yeast.


2002 ◽  
Vol 366 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra GAMPEL ◽  
Harry MELLOR

Rho GTPases control a complex network of intracellular signalling pathways. Whereas progress has been made in identifying downstream signalling partners for these proteins, the characterization of Rho upstream regulatory guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) has been hampered by a lack of suitable research tools. Here we use small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to examine the cellular regulation of the RhoB GTPase, and show that RhoB is activated downstream of the epidermal-growth-factor receptor through the Vav2 exchange factor. These studies demonstrate that siRNAs are an ideal research tool for the assignment of Rho GEF function in vivo.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1422
Author(s):  
Jero Vicente-Soler ◽  
Teresa Soto ◽  
Alejandro Franco ◽  
José Cansado ◽  
Marisa Madrid

The Rho family of GTPases represents highly conserved molecular switches involved in a plethora of physiological processes. Fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has become a fundamental model organism to study the functions of Rho GTPases over the past few decades. In recent years, another fission yeast species, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, has come into focus offering insight into evolutionary changes within the genus. Both fission yeasts contain only six Rho-type GTPases that are spatiotemporally controlled by multiple guanine–nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), and whose intricate regulation in response to external cues is starting to be uncovered. In the present review, we will outline and discuss the current knowledge and recent advances on how the fission yeasts Rho family GTPases regulate essential physiological processes such as morphogenesis and polarity, cellular integrity, cytokinesis and cellular differentiation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 4830-4842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja G. Hunter ◽  
Guanglei Zhuang ◽  
Dana Brantley-Sieders ◽  
Wojciech Swat ◽  
Christopher W. Cowan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed from preexisting vasculature, is critical for vascular remodeling during development and contributes to the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer. Prior studies from our laboratory demonstrate that the EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is a key regulator of angiogenesis in vivo. The EphA receptor-mediated angiogenic response is dependent on activation of Rho family GTPase Rac1 and is regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Here we report the identification of Vav2 and Vav3 as guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that link the EphA2 receptor to Rho family GTPase activation and angiogenesis. Ephrin-A1 stimulation recruits the binding of Vav proteins to the activated EphA2 receptor. The induced association of EphA receptor and Vav proteins modulates the activity of Vav GEFs, leading to activation of Rac1 GTPase. Overexpression of either Vav2 or Vav3 in primary microvascular endothelial cells promotes Rac1 activation, cell migration, and assembly in response to ephrin-A1 stimulation. Conversely, loss of Vav2 and Vav3 GEFs inhibits Rac1 activation and ephrin-A1-induced angiogenic responses both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, embryonic fibroblasts derived from Vav2−/− Vav3−/− mice fail to spread on an ephrin-A1-coated surface and exhibit a significant decrease in the formation of ephrin-A1-induced lamellipodia and filopodia. These findings suggest that Vav GEFs serve as a molecular link between EphA2 receptors and the actin cytoskeleton and provide an important mechanism for EphA2-mediated angiogenesis.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1859
Author(s):  
Laura Streit ◽  
Laurent Brunaud ◽  
Nicolas Vitale ◽  
Stéphane Ory ◽  
Stéphane Gasman

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) belong to a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from hormone secreting cells. These tumors are often associated with a dysfunction of their secretory activity. Neuroendocrine secretion occurs through calcium-regulated exocytosis, a process that is tightly controlled by Rho GTPases family members. In this review, we compiled the numerous mutations and modification of expression levels of Rho GTPases or their regulators (Rho guanine nucleotide-exchange factors and Rho GTPase-activating proteins) that have been identified in NETs. We discussed how they might regulate neuroendocrine secretion.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héraud ◽  
Pinault ◽  
Lagrée ◽  
Moreau

Small guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) gathered in the Rat sarcoma (Ras) superfamily represent a large family of proteins involved in several key cellular mechanisms. Within the Ras superfamily, the Ras homolog (Rho) family is specialized in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton-based mechanisms. These proteins switch between an active and an inactive state, resulting in subsequent inhibiting or activating downstream signals, leading finally to regulation of actin-based processes. The On/Off status of Rho GTPases implicates two subsets of regulators: GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors), which favor the active GTP (guanosine triphosphate) status of the GTPase and GAPs (GTPase activating proteins), which inhibit the GTPase by enhancing the GTP hydrolysis. In humans, the 20 identified Rho GTPases are regulated by over 70 GAP proteins suggesting a complex, but well-defined, spatio-temporal implication of these GAPs. Among the quite large number of RhoGAPs, we focus on p190RhoGAP, which is known as the main negative regulator of RhoA, but not exclusively. Two isoforms, p190A and p190B, are encoded by ARHGAP35 and ARHGAP5 genes, respectively. We describe here the function of each of these isoforms in physiological processes and sum up findings on their role in pathological conditions such as neurological disorders and cancers.


2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. G196-G203 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Wong ◽  
Paul Kubes ◽  
Yikun Zhang ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Stefan J. Urbanski ◽  
...  

The pathogenesis of hepatic allograft rejection remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the early role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-mediated cell recruitment in chronic hepatic rejection. Liver transplantation was performed from Lewis to Lewis rats (isograft controls) and from Lewis to Brown Norway rats (allograft rejection group). The allografted rats were treated with either ICAM-1 antisense oligonucleotides (10 mg · kg−1· day−1× 6 days ip) or a control preparation (either ICAM-1 missense oligonucleotide or normal saline). Hepatic leukocyte recruitment in vivo was studied on day 6 by using intravital microscopy. Liver histology, biochemistry, and survival rates were also examined. Leukocyte adhesion in terminal hepatic venules was significantly increased in the rejection group compared with isograft controls. Antisense ICAM-1 in the allografted group effectively reduced leukocyte adhesion. Histology and liver chemistry were less deranged in the antisense-treated groups compared with control-treated allografted rats. In the allograft groups, survival was significantly prolonged in the antisense-treated rats (42.3 ± 1.2 days) compared with the controls (25.2 ± 2.7 days). These results showed that early leukocyte recruitment in the hepatic microvasculature of rejecting allografts is ICAM-1 dependent and suggest that impacting on early cell recruitment can significantly ameliorate chronic rejection.


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