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Abstract
Phagocytosis is a key component of the innate immune response and of the clearance of apoptotic bodies. Phagosome formation and subsequent maturation require extensive cytoskeletal rearrangement and precisely choreographed vesicular fusion and fission events. The objectives of this review are to highlight the functional importance of lipids in the phagocytic process, to discuss how pathogenic microorganisms can in some cases manipulate host lipid metabolism to either co-opt or disrupt phagosome maturation and promote their own survival, and to describe how defective phagosomal lipid metabolism can result in disease.
Authors
Benjamin E. Steinberg, Sergio Grinstein
Figure 1
Stages of phagosome formation and maturation.
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Six stages of phagocytosis are shown: i, particle engagement; i, phagocytic cup formation; iii, nascent phagosome (1–2 min after sealing); iv, early phagosome (2–10 min after sealing); v, late phagosome (10–30 min after sealing); vi, phagolysosome (>30 min after sealing). As the phagosome matures, it undergoes multiple sequential interactions with early endosomes (EE), late endosomes (LE), and lysosomes (Ly).
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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)