Moesin controls cell-cell fusion and osteoclast function.

Cell-cell fusion is an evolutionarily conserved process that is essential for many functions, including fertilisation and the formation of placenta, muscle and osteoclasts, multinucleated cells that are unique in their ability to resorb bone. The mechanisms of osteoclast multinucleation involve dynamic interactions between the actin cytoskeleton and the plasma membrane that are still poorly characterized. Here, we found that moesin, a cytoskeletal linker protein member of the Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin (ERM) protein family, is activated during osteoclast maturation and plays an instrumental role in both osteoclast fusion and function.

Tuberculosis-associated IFN-I induces Siglec-1 on tunneling nanotubes and favors HIV-1 spread in macrophages.

While tuberculosis (TB) is a risk factor in HIV-1-infected individuals, the mechanisms by which (Mtb) worsens HIV-1 pathogenesis remain scarce. We showed that HIV-1 infection is exacerbated in macrophages exposed to TB-associated microenvironments due to tunneling nanotube (TNT) formation. To identify molecular factors associated with TNT function, we performed a transcriptomic analysis in these macrophages, and revealed the up-regulation of Siglec-1 receptor.

Genetic engineering of Hoxb8-immortalized hematopoietic progenitors - a potent tool to study macrophage tissue migration.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are detrimental in most cancers. Controlling their recruitment is thus potentially therapeutic. We previously found that TAMs perform protease-dependent mesenchymal migration in cancer, while macrophages perform amoeboid migration in other tissues.

The Protease-Dependent Mesenchymal Migration of Tumor-Associated Macrophages as a Target in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Macrophage recruitment is essential for tissue homeostasis but detrimental in most cancers. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a key role in cancer progression. Controlling their migration is, thus, potentially therapeutic.