Vav GEFs regulate macrophage morphology and adhesion-induced Rac and Rho activation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Vav GEFs regulate macrophage morphology and adhesion-induced Rac and Rho activation

AU - Bhavsar, Parag J.

AU - Vigorito, Elena

AU - Turner, Martin

AU - Ridley, Anne J.

PY - 2009/11/15

Y1 - 2009/11/15

N2 - The Vav family of proteins have the potential to act as both signalling adapters and GEFs for Rho GTPases. They have therefore been proposed as regulators of the cytoskeleton in various cell types. We have used macrophages from mice deficient in all three Vav isoforms to determine how their function affects cell morphology and migration. Macrophages lacking Vav proteins adopt ail elongated morphology and have enhanced migratory persistence in culture. To investigate the pathways through which Vav proteins exert their effects we analysed the responses of macrophages to the chemoattractant CSF-1 and to adhesion. We found that morphological and signalling responses of macrophages to CSF-1 did not require Vav Proteins. In contrast, adhesion-induced cell spreading, RhoA and Rac1 activation and cell signalling were all dependent oil Vav proteins. We Propose that Vav Proteins affect macrophage Morphology and motile behaviour by coupling adhesion receptors to Rac1 and RhoA activity and regulating adhesion signalling events such as paxillin and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by acting as adapters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AB - The Vav family of proteins have the potential to act as both signalling adapters and GEFs for Rho GTPases. They have therefore been proposed as regulators of the cytoskeleton in various cell types. We have used macrophages from mice deficient in all three Vav isoforms to determine how their function affects cell morphology and migration. Macrophages lacking Vav proteins adopt ail elongated morphology and have enhanced migratory persistence in culture. To investigate the pathways through which Vav proteins exert their effects we analysed the responses of macrophages to the chemoattractant CSF-1 and to adhesion. We found that morphological and signalling responses of macrophages to CSF-1 did not require Vav Proteins. In contrast, adhesion-induced cell spreading, RhoA and Rac1 activation and cell signalling were all dependent oil Vav proteins. We Propose that Vav Proteins affect macrophage Morphology and motile behaviour by coupling adhesion receptors to Rac1 and RhoA activity and regulating adhesion signalling events such as paxillin and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by acting as adapters. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.08.010

DO - 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.08.010

M3 - Article

VL - 315

SP - 3345

EP - 3358

JO - Experimental Cell Research

JF - Experimental Cell Research

IS - 19

ER -