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Virginia Tech

The Involvement of Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase-1 (IRAK-1) as a Critical Modulator of Macrophage Migration

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Macrophage migration, an essential component of many biological processes and pathologic conditions, is mediated by integrated cellular signaling processes and cytoskeleton rearrangement. Recent advances indicate that the innate immunity signaling process plays a key role in the regulation of macrophage migration. Furthermore, our lab has provided evidence demonstrating the involvement of a key innate immunity signaling kinase, IRAK-1, as a critical modulator of murine macrophage migration. Macrophage migration induced by a potent PKC activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was significantly decreased in IRAK-1-/- murine macrophages compared with wild type cells. Mechanistically, we first demonstrated that IRAK-1 works downstream of PKCε and directly binds to VASP, a cytoskeleton regulatory protein, to regulate PMA-induced macrophage migration. Secondly, we proved that IRAK-1 is required for LPS-induced macrophage migration and expression of MCP-1, a chemotactic cytokine for macrophages, via transcription factor C/EBPδ instead of NFκB. IRAK-1 binds directly to IKKε and inhibition or knock-down of IKKε results in a significant decrease in C/EBPδ expression and MCP-1 mRNA expression. Lastly, we identified the direct association between IRAK-1 and Rac1, a member of the Rac subfamily in the Rho family of GTPases. These finding further confirmed the essential role of IRAK-1 during macrophage migration. Our research provides a novel facet regarding the molecular signaling processes regulating macrophage migration.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biology
Department dc:contributor.department
Biology
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Gan, Lu
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Li, Liwu
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Lee, Yong Woo
  • Lawrence, Christopher B.
  • Hulver, Matthew W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05102010-061531
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/77071

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Gan, Lu. The Involvement of Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase-1 (IRAK-1) as a Critical Modulator of Macrophage Migration. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/77071