Vav1 and PI3k Are Required for Phagocytosis of β-Glucan and Subsequent Superoxide Generation by Microglia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2009
Description
Microglia are the resident innate immune cells that are critical for innate and adaptive immune responses within the CNS. They recognize and are activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) present on the surface of pathogens. β-glucans, the major PAMP present within fungal cell walls, are recognized by Dectin-1, which mediates numerous intracellular events invoked by β-glucans in various immune cells. Previously, we showed that Dectin-1 mediates phagocytosis of β-glucan and subsequent superoxide production in microglia. Here, we report that the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1 as well as phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) are downstream mediators of what is now recognized as the Dectin-1 signaling pathway. Both Vav1 and PI3K are activated upon stimulation of microglia with β-glucans, and the two proteins are required for phagocytosis of the glucan particles and for subsequent superoxide production. We also show that Vav1 functions upstream of PI3K and is required for activation of PI3K. Together, our results provide an important insight into the mechanistic aspects of microglial activation in response to β-glucans.
Citation Information
Shah, Vaibhav B.; Ozment-Skelton, Tammy R.; Williams, David L.; and Keshvara, Lakhu. 2009. Vav1 and PI3k Are Required for Phagocytosis of β-Glucan and Subsequent Superoxide Generation by Microglia. Molecular Immunology. Vol.46(8-9). 1845-1853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2009.01.014 PMID: 19232731 ISSN: 0161-5890