Phagocytosis is the cellular defense mechanism used to eliminate antigens derived from dysregulated or damaged cells, and microbial pathogens. Phagocytosis is therefore a pillar of innate immunity, whereby foreign particles are engulfed and degraded in lysolitic vesicles. In hexacorallians, phagocytic mechanisms are poorly understood, though putative anthozoan phagocytic cells (amoebocytes) have been identified histologically. We identify and characterize phagocytes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis . Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microscopy, we show that distinct populations of phagocytic cells engulf bacteria, fungal antigens, and beads. In addition to pathogenic antigens, we show that phagocytic cells engulf self, damaged cells. We show that target antigens localize to low pH phagolysosomes, and that degradation is occurring within them. Inhibiting actin filament rearrangement interferes with efficient particle phagocytosis but does not affect small molecule pinocytosis. We also demonstrate that cellular markers for lysolitic vesicles and reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with hexacorallian phagocytes. These results establish a foundation for improving our understanding of hexacorallian immune cell biology.
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Actin nano-architecture of phagocytic podosomes
Abstract Podosomes are actin-enriched adhesion structures important for multiple cellular processes, including migration, bone remodeling, and phagocytosis. Here, we characterize the structure and organization of phagocytic podosomes using interferometric photoactivated localization microscopy, a super-resolution microscopy technique capable of 15–20 nm resolution, together with structured illumination microscopy and localization-based super-resolution microscopy. Phagocytic podosomes are observed during frustrated phagocytosis, a model in which cells attempt to engulf micropatterned IgG antibodies. For circular patterns, this results in regular arrays of podosomes with well-defined geometry. Using persistent homology, we develop a pipeline for semi-automatic identification and measurement of podosome features. These studies reveal an hourglass shape of the podosome actin core, a protruding knob at the bottom of the core, and two actin networks extending from the core. Additionally, the distributions of paxillin, talin, myosin II, α-actinin, cortactin, and microtubules relative to actin are characterized.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2005341
- PAR ID:
- 10436684
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Volume:
- 13
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2041-1723
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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