Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 28: Cytoskeleton

BP 28.7: Talk

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 11:30–11:45, H 2032

Vimentin Secretion and its influence on macrophage functionality — •Divyendu Goud Thalla — Experimental Biophysics,Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, Germany

Macrophages play a vital role in the immune system by detecting and eliminating bacterial organisms through phagocytosis. Upon activation, macrophages expose vimentin cytoskeletal protein to the extracellular environment. Such extracellular vimentin can either remain bound to the cell surface or it can be released*into extracellular space. This phenomenon similarly occurs under circumstances like injury, senescence, and stress. However, the characteristics of the extracellular form of vimentin and its implications on macrophage functionality remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that vimentin is released from the back end of macrophages. Activation of macrophages further enhances this polarized secretion of vimentin. Our findings from migration and phagocytosis assays show that extracellular vimentin enhances macrophage functionality in terms of migration and phagocytosis. Through high resolution fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we show that extracellular vimentin is released into extracellular space in the form of small fragments.Taken together, we propose a mechanism of vimentin secretion and its implications on macrophage functionality.

Keywords: Vimentin; Secretion; Extracellular Vimentin