MER Tyrosine Kinase Mediates Efferocytosis Through a Novel β2 Integrin-Activating Signalling Pathway.

Abstract

Efferocytosis – the phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells – is a central component of tissue homeostasis and contributes to inflammatory and autoimmune conditions including atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis. MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK) is the predominant or sole efferocytic receptor in multiple tissues, and is the predominant efferocytic receptor on macrophages. MERTK is an opsonin-dependent receptor tyrosine kinase that triggers a poorly understood signaling pathway to mediate apoptotic cell engulfment. Using immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and super-resolution microscopy, we have identified a pre-formed receptor complex on the macrophage plasma membrane comprised of ~100 nm clusters of MERTK, β2 integrins, and multiple signaling molecules including Src-family kinases, PI3-kinases, and the integrin regulatory proteins ILK and FAK. MERTK is unable to mediate efferocytosis in the absence of β2 integrins or their opsonins, while β2 integrins require activation via MERTK signaling to induce the engulfment of apoptotic cells. Using FRET microscopy, we determined that MERTK directly induces the conformational change of β2 integrins from the low to high-affinity form via a PI3-kinase, FAK and ILK-dependent signaling pathway. Activation of this pathway then drives the coalescence of the MERTK/β2 integrin clusters into a larger synapse through which efferocytosis occurs. The identification of the MERTK signaling pathway and the role of β2 integrins in this pathway provides new insights into the function of this critical homeostatic receptor and provides new insights into how MERTK mutations and signaling defects may contribute to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.