The macrophage marches on its phagosome: dynamic assays of phagosome function

• Published in: Nature reviews. Immunology Vol. 9; no. 8; pp. 594 - 600
• Main Authors: Russell, David G, VanderVen, Brian C, Glennie, Sarah, Mwandumba, Henry, Heyderman, Robert S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2009; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen Presentation - immunology; Antigens; Antimicrobial agents; Biological Assay; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; Humans; Hydrolases - immunology; Hydrolases - metabolism; Hydrolysis; Immune response; Immunology; innovation; Lymphocytes; Lysosomes - immunology; Lysosomes - metabolism; Macrophage Activation - immunology; Macrophages; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Pathogens; Phagocytosis; Phagosomes - immunology; Phagosomes - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Protons; Toll-Like Receptors - immunology; Toll-Like Receptors - metabolism; United States
• ISSN: 1474-1733; 1474-1741; 1474-1741
• DOI: 10.1038/nri2591

This Innovation article describes recently developed assays that measure the changing physiology within maturing phagosomes and discusses how studies using these techniques have shed light on the biological functions of phagosomes and phagocytes during innate and adaptive immune responses. Professional phagocytes ingest particulate material to fulfil a diverse array of functions in a multicellular organism. The ancestral function of phagosomes is digestion; however, through evolution this degradative capacity has become pivotal to the adaptive immune response by processing antigens to be presented to lymphocytes. Moreover, phagocytes have also acquired an active role in microbial killing. This Innovation article describes new assays that probe the biological activities which occur within phagosomes. These assays provide functional insights into how the phagosome fulfils its diverse roles in homeostasis and in innate and adaptive immune responses.