研究人员开发了一种基因编码的荧光报告器CharON，它可以跟踪新出现的凋亡细胞和它们被吞噬细胞清除的情况。利用表达CharON的果蝇，研究人员发现了胚胎发育过程中协调清除凋亡细胞的多种定性和定量特征。当面对大量出现的凋亡细胞时，巨噬细胞在吞噬行为上表现出异质性，导致一些出细胞巨噬细胞携带高的负担。负担过重的巨噬细胞在清除伤口碎片方面受到影响。这些发现揭示了体内细胞凋亡和巨噬细胞吞噬的已知和意外特征。
据介绍，在发育、平衡和疾病过程中，几乎所有的组织都会发生细胞凋亡和随后通过流出细胞而被清除。然而，在体内追踪细胞死亡和随后的尸体清除一直很困难。
附：英文原文
Title: Live cell tracking of macrophage efferocytosis during Drosophila embryo development in vivo
Author: Michael H. Raymond, Andrew J. Davidson, Yi Shen, Daniel R. Tudor, Christopher D. Lucas, Sho Morioka, Justin S. A. Perry, Julia Krapivkina, David Perrais, Linus J. Schumacher, Robert E. Campbell, Will Wood, Kodi S. Ravichandran
Issue&Volume: 2022-03-11
Abstract: Apoptosis of cells and their subsequent removal through efferocytosis occurs in nearly all tissues during development, homeostasis, and disease. However, it has been difficult to track cell death and subsequent corpse removal in vivo. We developed a genetically encoded fluorescent reporter, CharON (Caspase and pH Activated Reporter, Fluorescence ON), that could track emerging apoptotic cells and their efferocytic clearance by phagocytes. Using Drosophila expressing CharON, we uncovered multiple qualitative and quantitative features of coordinated clearance of apoptotic corpses during embryonic development. When confronted with high rates of emerging apoptotic corpses, the macrophages displayed heterogeneity in engulfment behaviors, leading to some efferocytic macrophages carrying high corpse burden. Overburdened macrophages were compromised in clearing wound debris. These findings reveal known and unexpected features of apoptosis and macrophage efferocytosis in vivo.
DOI: abl4430
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abl4430