Rac-GTPases and their Rac-GEF activators play important roles in the recruitment and host defence functions of neutrophils. These proteins control the activation of adhesion molecules and the cytoskeletal dynamics that enable the adhesion, migration and tissue recruitment of neutrophils. They also regulate the effector functions that allow neutrophils to kill bacterial and fungal pathogens, and to clear debris. This review focuses on the roles of Rac-GTPases and Rac-GEFs in neutrophil adhesion, migration and recruitment.
Keywords: P-Rex1; Rho-GTPases; Vav; guanine-nucleotide exchange factors; neutrophils; small G proteins.
© The Authors. European Journal of Clinical Investigation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.