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Review
. 1998 Oct;78(4):949-67.
doi: 10.1152/physrev.1998.78.4.949.

Cytosolic free calcium and the cytoskeleton in the control of leukocyte chemotaxis

E J Pettit  1 , F S Fay
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Cytosolic free calcium and the cytoskeleton in the control of leukocyte chemotaxis

E J Pettit et al. Physiol Rev. 1998 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

In response to a chemotactic gradient, leukocytes extravasate and chemotax toward the site of pathogen invasion. Although fundamental in the control of many leukocyte functions, the role of cytosolic free Ca2+ in chemotaxis is unclear and has been the subject of debate. Before becoming motile, the cell assumes a polarized morphology, as a result of modulation of the cytoskeleton by G protein and kinase activation. This morphology may be reinforced during chemotaxis by the intracellular redistribution of Ca2+ stores, cytoskeletal constituents, and chemoattractant receptors. Restricted subcellular distributions of signaling molecules, such as Ca2+, Ca2+/calmodulin, diacylglycerol, and protein kinase C, may also play a role in some types of leukocyte. Chemotaxis is an essential function of most cells at some stage during their development, and a deeper understanding of the molecular signaling and structural components involved will enable rational design of therapeutic strategies in a wide variety of diseases.

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