Rho-associated kinase regulates Langerhans cell morphology and responsiveness to tissue damage.

ABSTRACT: Skin is often the first physical barrier to encounter invading pathogens and physical damage. Damage to the skin must be resolved quickly and efficiently to maintain organ homeostasis. Epidermal-resident immune cells known as Langerhans cells use dendritic protrusions to dynamically surveil the skin microenvironment, which contains epithelial keratinocytes and somatosensory peripheral axons. The mechanisms governing Langerhans cell dendrite dynamics and responses to tissue damage are not well understood. Using skin explants from adult zebrafish, we show that Langerhans cells maintain normal surveillance activity following axonal degeneration and use their dynamic dendrites to engulf small axonal debris. By contrast, a ramified-to-rounded shape transition accommodates the engulfment of larg

SUBMITTER: Peterman E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10402157 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature