title: The LINC-less granulocyte nucleus.
abstract: The major blood granulocyte (neutrophil) is rapidly recruited to sites of bacterial and fungal infections. It is a highly malleable cell, allowing it to squeeze out of blood vessels and migrate through tight tissue spaces. The human granulocyte nucleus is lobulated and exhibits a paucity of nuclear lamins, increasing its capability for deformation. The present study examined the existence of protein connections between the nuclear envelope and cytoskeletal elements (the LINC complex) in differentiated cell states (i.e. granulocytic, monocytic and macrophage) of the human leukemic cell line HL-60, as well as in human blood leukocytes. HL-60 granulocytes exhibited a deficiency of several LINC complex proteins (i.e. nesprin 1 giant, nesprin 2 giant, SUN1, plectin and vimentin); whereas, the macrophage state revealed nesprin 1 giant, plectin and vimentin. Both states possessed SUN2 in the nuclear envelope. Parallel differences were observed with some of the LINC complex proteins in isolated human blood leukocytes, including macrophage cells derived from blood monocytes. The present study documenting the paucity of LINC complex proteins in granulocytic forms, in combination with previous data on granulocyte nuclear shape and nuclear envelope composition, suggest the hypothesis that these adaptations evolved to facilitate granulocyte cellular malleability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA. dolins@bowdoin.edu
authors.forename: Ada L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Olins
authors.forename: Thanh V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zwerger
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Hanswalter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zentgraf
authors.forename: Angelika A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Noegel
authors.forename: Iakowos
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karakesisoglou
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hodzic
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Olins
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D014212:Tretinoin