Integrity of the cytoskeletal system is important for phagocytosis by Kupffer cells.
The mechanism of phagocytosis by Kupffer cells is believed to involve the Ca2(+)-calmodulin system. However, the role of myosin in this system is still unknown. In this study, we found that myosin light chain kinase inhibitor (ML-9) inhibited phagocytosis by cultured Kupffer cells using polystyrene beads, a time-lapse VTR system and fluorescent staining techniques. The inhibitory effects of ML-9 suggest that myosin may be involved in this complex cellular function and that the integrity of the cytoskeletal system is essential for normal phagocytosis.
Watanabe
S
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hirose
M
M
Ueno
T
T
Kominami
E
E
Namihisa
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009218:Myosins / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001381:Azepines; C056218:ML 9; D009219:Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase; D009218:Myosins