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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

"Phagosome Closure Assay" to Visualize Phagosome Formation in Three Dimensions Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescent Microscopy (TIRFM)
Published on: August 26, 2016
Linking exocytosis and endocytosis during phagocytosis
Virginie Braun1, Florence Niedergang
1Membrane and Cytoskeleton Dynamics group, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR144, 75005 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Phagocytosis is used by macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils to capture and destroy pathogens and particulate antigens. Although localized assembly of actin filaments is the driving force for particle internalization, exocytosis of intracellular compartments, and in particular endocytic compartments, has been shown recently to be required for the early steps of phagosome formation. Here we report on the different compartments undergoing exocytosis during phagocytosis, with a special focus on late endosomes. We then compare this process with secretion from lysosomes or lysosome-related organelles in specialized cells. Finally, we discuss how some of the molecular mechanisms responsible for lysosome-related organelle secretion could also be implicated in phagosome formation.
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