Meghan Morrissey
@mmorrissey.bsky.social
Interested in how macrophages count and measure, and macrophage-cancer interactions. Assistant prof at UCSB https://morrisseylab.mcdb.ucsb.edu/
We have TWO papers out in @jcb.org this month! 🎉
First, @kirstin-rollins.bsky.social showed that macrophages nibble adherent target cells, like the ones found in solid tumors, instead of phagocytosing. Amazing movies from @sareenfiaz.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
First, @kirstin-rollins.bsky.social showed that macrophages nibble adherent target cells, like the ones found in solid tumors, instead of phagocytosing. Amazing movies from @sareenfiaz.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We have TWO papers out in @jcb.org this month! 🎉
First, @kirstin-rollins.bsky.social showed that macrophages nibble adherent target cells, like the ones found in solid tumors, instead of phagocytosing. Amazing movies from @sareenfiaz.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
First, @kirstin-rollins.bsky.social showed that macrophages nibble adherent target cells, like the ones found in solid tumors, instead of phagocytosing. Amazing movies from @sareenfiaz.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
With these clues, Wyatt pinpointed a specific cytoskeletal regulator that is dephosphorylated by SHP-phosphatases bound to SIRPA (CD47 receptor)... Vav1, a Rac GEF! Hyperactivating Vav1 or Rac meant macrophages could phagocytose cancer cells with CD47.
February 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
With these clues, Wyatt pinpointed a specific cytoskeletal regulator that is dephosphorylated by SHP-phosphatases bound to SIRPA (CD47 receptor)... Vav1, a Rac GEF! Hyperactivating Vav1 or Rac meant macrophages could phagocytose cancer cells with CD47.
If macrophages managed to eat a target, it was through a slower sinking phagocytosis...
February 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
If macrophages managed to eat a target, it was through a slower sinking phagocytosis...
But when we added CD47, this type of phagocytosis failed...see how the macrophage keeps trying to extend membrane but doesn't quite make it
February 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
But when we added CD47, this type of phagocytosis failed...see how the macrophage keeps trying to extend membrane but doesn't quite make it
Macrophages usually reach out to phagocytose IgG coated targets... see the cell extending membrane out and around the bead
February 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Macrophages usually reach out to phagocytose IgG coated targets... see the cell extending membrane out and around the bead
Extremely grateful to Damon Runyon for this funding, especially with todays news on NIH grants. See a green macrophage nibbling on a pink cancer cell 👇
January 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Extremely grateful to Damon Runyon for this funding, especially with todays news on NIH grants. See a green macrophage nibbling on a pink cancer cell 👇