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Directed neutrophil migration in blood vessels and tissues is critical for proper immune function; however, the mechanisms that regulate three-dimensional neutrophil chemotaxis remain unclear. It has been shown that integrins are dispensable for interstitial three-dimensional (3D) leukocyte migration; however, the role of integrin regulatory proteins during directed neutrophil migration is not known. Using a novel microfluidic gradient generator amenable to 2D and 3D analysis, we found that the integrin regulatory proteins Kindlin-3, RIAM, and talin-1 differentially regulate neutrophil polarization and directed migration to gradients of chemoattractant in 2D versus 3D. Both talin-1-deficient and RIAM-deficient neutrophil-like cells had impaired adhesion, polarization, and migration on 2D surfaces whereas in 3D the cells polarized but had impaired 3D chemotactic velocity. Kindlin-3 deficient cells were able to polarize and migrate on 2D surfaces but had impaired directionality. In a 3D environment, Kindlin-3 deficient cells displayed efficient chemotaxis. These findings demonstrate that the role of integrin regulatory proteins in cell polarity and directed migration can be different in 2D and 3D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kostmann disease is an inherited severe congenital neutropenia syndrome associated with loss-of-function mutations in an adaptor protein HS1-associated protein X-1 (Hax1). How Hax1 regulates neutrophil function remains largely unknown. In this paper, we use ribonucleic acid interference to deplete Hax1 in the neutrophil-like cell line PLB-985 and identify Hax1 as a negative regulator of integrin-mediated adhesion and chemotaxis. Using microfluidics, we show that depletion of Hax1 impairs neutrophil uropod detachment and directed migration. Hax1-deficient cells also display increased integrin-mediated adhesion and reduced RhoA activity. Moreover, depletion of RhoA induces increased neutrophil adhesion and impaired migration, suggesting that Hax1 regulates neutrophil adhesion and chemotaxis through RhoA. Accordingly, activation of RhoA is sufficient to rescue adhesion of Hax1-deficient neutrophils. Together, our findings identify Hax1 as a novel regulator of neutrophil uropod detachment and chemotaxis through RhoA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]