Involvement of Fyn kinase in Kit and integrin-mediated Rac activation, cytoskeletal reorganization, and chemotaxis of mast cells

Blood. 2007 May 1;109(9):3679-86. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-11-057315. Epub 2007 Jan 9.

Abstract

Kit receptor and its ligand stem cell factor (SCF) are critical regulators of mast cell production, proliferation, degranulation, and chemotaxis. In this study, we investigated how Fyn kinase regulates chemotaxis of mast cells toward SCF. On beta1-integrin engagement, Fyn-deficient (fyn(-/-)) mast cells displayed a striking defect in cell spreading and lamellipodia formation compared to wild-type mast cells. The hematopoietic-specific Src family kinases (Lyn/Fgr/Hck) were not required for initial SCF-induced cell spreading. Reduced SCF-induced activation of Rac1 and Rac2 GTPases, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and filamentous actin polymerization was observed in fyn(-/-) mast cells compared to wild-type mast cells. Retroviral-mediated expression of Fyn, constitutively active forms of Rac2 or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in fyn(-/-) mast cells rescued defects in SCF-induced cell polarization and chemotaxis of Fyn-deficient mast cells. Thus, we conclude that Fyn kinase plays a unique role upstream of PI3K and Rac GTPases to promote the reorganization of the cytoskeleton during mast cell spreading and chemotaxis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Degranulation / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemotaxis / physiology*
  • Enzyme Activation / genetics
  • Integrins / metabolism*
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / enzymology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism*
  • RAC2 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Stem Cell Factor / metabolism
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Integrins
  • Stem Cell Factor
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Fyn protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn
  • src-Family Kinases
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein