Phagosome Maturation in Macrophages is Enhanced by p38α MAPK Signaling.

ABSTRACT: In macrophages, it is generally assumed that without active escape mechanisms, all phagocytosed cargo eventually reaches lysosomes. Yet, the influence of specific ligands, like lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on phagosome maturation is unclear. Here, using sterile, non-immunogenic particles as model cargo phagocytosed by macrophages, we show that in the absence of an external signal, less than half the phagosomes fuse with lysosomes. By quantifying phagosome maturation in terms of lysosomal localization and mapping lumenal pH dynamics, we find that early events triggered by LPS-induced signaling enhance both cargo delivery to lysosomes and phagosome acidification rates. We demonstrate that stress-activated p38 alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is important for this signaling even

SUBMITTER: Shah M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12236480 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature