Function of Rho family proteins in actin dynamics during phagocytosis and engulfment

Phagocytosis is the uptake of large particles by cells by a mechanism that is based on local rearrangement of the actin microfilament cytoskeleton. In higher organisms, phagocytic cells are essential for host defence against invading pathogens, and phagocytosis contributes to inflammation and the im mune response. In addition, engulfment, defined as the phagocytic clearance of cell corpses generated by programmed cell death or apoptosis, has an es sential role in tissue homeostasis. Although morphologically distinct phago cytic events can be observed depending on the type of surface receptor enga ged, work over the past two years has revealed the essential underlying rol e of Rho family proteins and their downstream effecters in controlling acti n dynamics during phagocytosis.