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Fc- and complement-receptor activation stimulates cell cycle progression of macrophage cells from G1 to S

Yong Luo1, Stephanie C Tucker, Arturo Casadevall

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|May 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Phagocytosis, the process where cells engulf particles, can trigger macrophages to divide. This immune cell proliferation aids host defense but may also facilitate pathogen spread.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Phagocytosis is a critical host defense mechanism involving macrophages engulfing pathogens.
  • The interaction between macrophages and microbes like Cryptococcus neoformans can influence macrophage behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of phagocytosis on macrophage cell cycle progression.
  • To determine if microbial ingestion stimulates macrophage replication.

Main Methods:

  • Macrophages (J774 cell line, primary bone marrow, and peritoneal macrophages) were incubated with polystyrene beads or Cryptococcus neoformans (live or heat-killed).
  • Fc-mediated and complement-mediated phagocytosis were utilized.
  • Cell cycle phase distribution was analyzed, and BrdU incorporation was measured to assess DNA synthesis.

Main Results:

  • Phagocytosis of particles or microbes induced an increase in S phase cells, indicating cell cycle progression.
  • This effect was observed following Fc-mediated and complement-mediated phagocytosis.
  • Stimulation of cell division was also triggered by Fc-mediated signals without particle ingestion, suggesting receptor engagement is key.

Conclusions:

  • Phagocytosis of microbes or inert particles stimulates macrophages to enter S phase and initiate cell division.
  • This mechanism can enhance the number of effector cells for host defense.
  • However, it may also contribute to the dissemination of infections.

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