PUBLICATION
CD44 facilitates adhesive interactions in airineme-mediated intercellular signaling
- Authors
- Bowman, R.L., Kim, J., Parsons, M.J., Eom, D.S.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-251007-1
- Date
- 2025
- Source
- Frontiers in cell and developmental biology 13: 15227101522710 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Eom, Dae Seok, Parsons, Michael
- Keywords
- CD44, airinemes, cell adhesion, cytonemes, filopodia, macrophage, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
- none
- PubMed
- 41049281 Full text @ Front Cell Dev Biol
Citation
Bowman, R.L., Kim, J., Parsons, M.J., Eom, D.S. (2025) CD44 facilitates adhesive interactions in airineme-mediated intercellular signaling. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. 13:15227101522710.
Abstract
Specialized cellular protrusions facilitate local intercellular communication in various species, including mammals. Among these, airinemes play a crucial role in pigment pattern formation in zebrafish by mediating long-distance Notch signaling between pigment cells. Remarkably, airinemes exhibit large vesicle-like structures at their tips, which are pulled by macrophages and delivered to target cells. The interaction between macrophages and Delta-ligand-carrying airineme vesicles is essential for initiating airineme-mediated signaling, yet the molecular details of this interaction remain elusive. Through high-resolution live imaging, genetic in vivo manipulations, and in vitro adhesion assays, we found that adhesive interactions via the extracellular domain of CD44, a class I transmembrane glycoprotein, between macrophages and airineme vesicles are critical for airineme signaling. Mutants lacking the extracellular domain of CD44 lose their adhesiveness, resulting in a significant reduction in airineme extension and pigment pattern defects. Our findings provide valuable insights into the role of adhesive interactions between signal-sending cells and macrophages in long-range intercellular signaling.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping