title: NOD1 and NOD2 Interact with the Phagosome Cargo in Mast Cells: A Detailed Morphological Evidence.
abstract: Mast cells (MC) play a key role in triggering the inflammatory process and share some functions with professional phagocytes. It is not clear whether or not the phagocytic process in MC follows the same route and has the same meaning of that of professional phagocytes. Herein we analyze in detail the structure of the phagosome in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC). The ultrastructural analysis of the phagosome, containing either model particles or bacteria, reveals that these vacuoles are very tight, and in several areas, their membrane seems to have dissolved. RPMC express NOD1 and NOD2 proteins whose role is to recognize intracellular foreign components and induce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Following Escherichia coli ingestion, both these molecules are found on the phagosome membrane and on ingested pathogens, together with phagosome maturation markers. These findings suggest that in RPMC the ingested cargo can, through interruptions of the phagosome membrane, interact directly with NODs, which act as switches in the process of cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, University of Trieste, Via Alfonso Valerio 28 (edificio R), Trieste, 34127, Italy, zabucchi@units.it.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zabucchi
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Soranzo
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000276:immunology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C512493:NOD2 protein, rat; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein