title: The scavenger receptor CD36 plays a role in cytokine-induced macrophage fusion.
abstract: Multinucleated giant cells, characteristic of granulomatous infections, originate from the fusion of macrophages. Using an antibody screening strategy we found that the scavenger receptor CD36 participates in macrophage fusion induced by the cytokines IL-4 and GM-CSF. Our results demonstrate that exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface and lipid recognition by CD36 are required for cytokine-induced fusion of macrophages. We also show that CD36 acts in a heterotypic manner during giant-cell formation and that the formation of osteoclasts is independent of CD36. The discovery of molecules involved in the formation of multinucleated giant cells will enable us to determine their functional significance. Furthermore, our results suggest that lipid capture by cell surface receptors may be a general feature of cell fusion.
authors.affiliation: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helming
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Siamon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015743:Giant Cells, Foreign-Body / Q000378:metabolism; D015744:Giant Cells, Langhans / Q000378:metabolism; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018955:CD36 Antigens; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor