Phagocytes Get Close to Their Enemies.
Dustin ML., Davis SJ.
Phagocytosis is key for many organismal functions. In a recent issue of Cell, Freeman et al. (2016) demonstrate a feed-forward signaling mechanism wherein F-actin and integrin receptors drive contact formation between phagocytes and antibody-coated solid particles, signaling their engulfment. This mechanism translates nanoscale proximity effects into wider self-propagating signals.