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Immunogold labelling indicates high catalase concentrations in amorphous and crystalline inclusions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) peroxisomes.

Immunogold labelling and electron microscopy were used to investigate whether catalase was present in peroxisomal inclusions, the composition of which has not yet been determined in plant cells. In the mesophyll cells of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cotyledons, the catalase gold label was confined to peroxisomes. At day 2 of postgerminative growth in darkness, peroxisomes were free of inclusions, and the matrix was homogeneously labelled with gold particles. Thereafter, amorphous inclusions appeared, but by day 5 of growth, conspicuous crystalline inclusions (cores) were the predominant type. This developmental change, first observed in cotyledons grown in continuous light between day 2.5 and 5, also took place in cotyledons kept in permanent darkness. Both amorphous and crystalline inclusions showed a much higher immunogold label than did the peroxisomal matrix, indicating that catalase was a component of both types of peroxisomal inclusions. In contrast to catalase, the immunogold label of glycolate oxidase was almost completely absent from cores and was confined to the peroxisomal matrix. Together with reports on the absence of other enzymes from peroxisomal inclusions in sunflower and other species (Vaughn, 1989) our results suggest that catalase is a major constituent of amorphous and crystalline peroxisomal inclusions in plants.

Catalase↗

Giant actin inclusions in hematopoietic cells associated with transfusion-dependent anemia and grey skin discoloration.

We evaluated a 13-month-old boy with cytoplasmic inclusions in hematopoietic cells, transfusion-dependent anemia, splenomegaly, and striking grey skin discoloration. Bright blue inclusions, 1 to 5 microns in diameter, were observed, primarily in the cytoplasm, of 30% to 40% of myeloid cells and in occasional monocytes, megakaryocytes, and lymphocytes on Wright Giemsa-stained bone marrow and blood smears. They occasionally involved the nucleus. The inclusions lacked lysosomes, polysaccharides, or lipids. Ultrastructurally, they lacked limiting membranes and consisted of tightly packed microfilaments averaging 7 nm in diameter, consistent with the size of actin monofilaments. On light microscopy, the inclusions stained with a monoclonal antibody to muscle-specific actin. Inclusion-positive cells contained increased F-actin content and were defective in chemotactic factor-activated actin polymerization; inclusion-negative cells polymerized actin normally. Neutrophil and platelet numbers and functional studies were mildly abnormal. Anemia and skin discoloration resolved spontaneously after 18 months, but the giant inclusions have persisted to the present. We conclude that this child has a previously unreported constellation of clinical and laboratory findings comprising severe anemia, intermittent neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, abnormal neutrophil migration and platelet aggregation, giant inclusions of actin in hematopoietic cells, and grey skin discoloration.

Actins↗

Ubiquitin expression in inclusion body myositis. An immunohistochemical study.

Ubiquitin has been shown by immunohistochemical studies to be a component of many of the filamentous inclusion bodies that are known in neuropathology. In the current study, we examined the expression of ubiquitin in 14 cases of typical inclusion body myositis, in skeletal muscle specimens from four cases of typical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in muscle specimens from three normal controls. In the cases of inclusion body myositis, rimmed vacuoles were ubiquitin immunoreactive in all cases. Intrasarcoplasmic inclusions were positive in the nine cases that had them. In four cases, there were positive intranuclear inclusions, and in seven, there was homogeneous staining of nuclei. Atrophic fibers and necrotic fibers were positive in 11 and nine cases, respectively. In the cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, atrophic fibers were positive in three cases, and focal nuclear staining was seen in two. In one of the three control cases, a few atrophic fibers had faint sarcoplasmic positivity; no other staining was seen. We conclude that ubiquitin is a component of the inclusions that characterize inclusion body myositis. However, ubiquitin expression in skeletal muscle disease is not pathognomonic of inclusion body myositis.

Adult↗

Centrifugal processing of cell debris and inclusion bodies from recombinant Escherichia coli.

The settling characteristics of cell debris and inclusion bodies prior to, and following, fractionation in a disc-stack centrifuge were measured using Cumulative Sedimentation Analysis (CSA) and Centrifugal Disc photoSedimentation (CDS). The impact of centrifuge feedrate and repeated homogenisation on both cell debris and inclusion body collection efficiency was investigated. Increasing the normalised centrifuge feedrate (Q/sigma) from 1.32 x 10(-9) m s-1 to 3.97 x 10(-9) m s-1 leads to a 36% increase in inclusion body paste purity. Purity may also be improved by repeated homogenisation. Increasing the number of homogeniser passes results in smaller cell debris size whilst leaves inclusion body size unaltered. At a normalised centrifuge feedrate of 2.65 x 10(-9) m s-1, increasing the number of homogeniser passes from two (2) to ten (10) improved overall inclusion body paste purity by 58%. Grade-efficiency curves for both the cell debris and inclusion bodies have also been generated in this study. The data are described using an equation developed by Mannweiler (1989) with parameters of k = 0.15-0.16 and n = 2.5-2.6 for inclusion bodies, and k = 0.12-0.14 and n = 2.0-2.2 for cell debris. This is the first accurate experimentally-determined grade efficiency curve for cell debris. Previous studies have simply estimated debris grade efficiency curves using an approximate debris size distribution and grade efficiency curves determined with 'ideal particles' (e.g. spherical PVA particles). The findings of this study may be used to simulate and optimise the centrifugal fractionation of inclusion bodies from cell debris.

Cell Fractionation↗

Autofluorescent inclusions in long-term postconfluent cultures of retinal pigment epithelium.

PURPOSE: To examine the accumulation and morphologic features of fluorescent inclusions in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro and to determine whether accumulation correlates with parameters of age. METHODS: Cultured human RPE cells were maintained undisturbed at confluence for intervals as long as 2 years and then were examined for autofluorescent inclusions by fluorescence and electron microscopy, with comparisons to the lipofuscin of freshly isolated RPE. Autofluorescence was also examined in bovine RPE cultures that were aged in vitro by replicative senescence. In some postconfluent cultures,the activity of the lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D was measured, and the effect of cell growth on autofluorescence was examined by reinducing cell proliferation in late-stage cultures. RESULTS: Autofluorescent inclusions accumulated in human and bovine RPE cultures after extended postconfluent periods. Accumulation was not accelerated in cultures from older donors or in cultures that were aged in vitro. The number of granules per RPE cell varied for lipofuscin in situ and inclusions in vitro, although the latter were more heterogeneous in size and shape and in ultrastructural appearance of the granule contents. Lipofuscin and autofluorescent inclusions were lost when RPE cells were propagated, but in contrast to lipofuscin, the inclusions became smaller and fainter when growth was reinduced in postconfluent cultures. Cathepsin D activity varied among cultures and showed no significant change as time elapsed after confluence. Activity increased after repropagation of long-term postconfluent cultures. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of phagocytic challenge with photoreceptor outer segments, postconfluent RPE cultures accumulate heterogeneous materials that show autofluorescence. Accumulation is associated with one marker of age: time at confluence, which simulates a long-term, nonmitotic state similar to that which occurs in situ during aging in postproliferative tissues. The autofluorescent inclusions in vitro predictably differ from autofluorescent lipofuscin in situ, presumably because the inclusions formed in culture are derived from RPE autophagy alone. Postconfluent cultures can be used to examine the molecular and biologic properties of materials originating only from an autophagic source, or coupled with phagocytic challenge to produce a model of developing RPE lipofuscin that has an autophagocytic and a heterophagic component, similar to RPE cells in situ.

Aged↗

Mutant huntingtin expression in clonal striatal cells: dissociation of inclusion formation and neuronal survival by caspase inhibition.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusions are found in the brains of patients with Huntington's disease and form from the polyglutamine-expanded N-terminal region of mutant huntingtin. To explore the properties of inclusions and their involvement in cell death, mouse clonal striatal cells were transiently transfected with truncated and full-length human wild-type and mutant huntingtin cDNAs. Both normal and mutant proteins localized in the cytoplasm, and infrequently, in dispersed and perinuclear vacuoles. Only mutant huntingtin formed nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions, which increased with polyglutamine expansion and with time after transfection. Nuclear inclusions contained primarily cleaved N-terminal products, whereas cytoplasmic inclusions contained cleaved and larger intact proteins. Cells with wild-type or mutant protein had distinct apoptotic features (membrane blebbing, shrinkage, cellular fragmentation), but those with mutant huntingtin generated the most cell fragments (apoptotic bodies). The caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK significantly increased cell survival but did not diminish nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions. In contrast, Z-DEVD-FMK significantly reduced nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions but did not increase survival. A series of N-terminal products was formed from truncated normal and mutant proteins and from full-length mutant huntingtin but not from full-length wild-type huntingtin. One prominent N-terminal product was blocked by Z-VAD-FMK. In summary, the formation of inclusions in clonal striatal cells corresponds to that seen in the HD brain and is separable from events that regulate cell death. N-terminal cleavage may be linked to mutant huntingtin's role in cell death.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Nanoscale lead and noble gas inclusions in aluminum: structures and properties.

Transmission electron microscopy has been used for structural and physical characterization of nanoscale inclusions of lead and noble gases in aluminum. When the inclusion sizes approach nanoscale dimensions, many of their properties are seen to deviate from similar properties in bulk and in most cases the deviations will increase as the inclusion sizes decrease. Binary alloys of lead and noble gases with aluminum are characterized by extremely low mutual solubilities and inclusions will, therefore, exist as practically pure components embedded in the aluminum matrix. Furthermore, the thermal vacancy mobility in aluminum at and above room temperature is sufficiently high to accommodate volume strains associated with the inclusions thus leading to virtually strain free crystals. The inclusions grow in parallel cube alignment with the aluminum matrix and have a cuboctahedral shape, which reflects directly the anisotropy of the interfacial energies. Inclusions in grain boundaries can have single crystalline or bicrystalline morphology that can be explained from a generalized Wulff analysis such as the xi-vector construction. The inclusions have been found to display a variety of nanoscale features such as high Laplace pressure, size-dependent superheating during melting, deviations from the Wulff shape displaying magic size effects, a shape dependence of edge energy, and so on. All these effects have been observed and monitored by TEM using conventional imaging conditions and high-resolution conditions in combination with in-situ analysis at elevated temperatures.

Algorithms↗

Multimodal inclusion complexes between barbiturates and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution: isothermal titration microcalorimetry, (13)C NMR spectrometry, and molecular dynamics simulation.

Multiple types (structures) of inclusion complexes between barbiturates and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD) were evaluated by isothermal titration microcalorimetry and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The geometries of the inclusion complexes were suggested by molecular dynamics simulation. Barbituric acid (BA), barbital (B), amobarbital (AB), pentobarbital (PB), secobarbital (SB), cyclobarbital (CB), and phenobarbital (PHB) were used as barbiturates with different substituents on the barbituric acid ring and compared for inclusion types in aqueous solution. The association constants (K), stoichiometries, and thermodynamic parameters change in free energy (DeltaG) change in enthalpy (DeltaH), and change in entropy [DeltaS] for each type of complex were determined from the calorimetric data. The inclusion complexation was largely entropy driven because of hydrophobic interactions. The values of K increased in the order BA<B<AB<PB<SB<CB<PHB. Barbiturates, except B and BA, form two types of inclusion complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry in the un-ionized forms. The first type of inclusion complex with high affinity (K(1)) was characterized by small negative values of DeltaH(1) and large positive DeltaS(1), where the substituent R2 of the barbiturate was initially inserted into the cavity of HPCD through hydrophobic interactions. There was a good relationship between DeltaG(1) obtained from the calorimetric data for the first type of inclusion complex and DeltaG(R2) calculated from the changes in (13)C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) chemical shifts for the substituent R2 of barbiturates. These types were very stable in aqueous solution at various pHs. The second type of complex, with low affinity (K(2)), was characterized by large negative values of DeltaH(2) and small positive DeltaS(2), reflecting van der Waals' interactions in the un-ionized forms of barbiturates at pH values less than pK(a). The values of K(2) were markedly decreased to <10(3) M(-1) as the barbiturates were ionized over pH 8. Thus, in the second type, the barbituric acid ring contributed to forming the complexes. The geometries were stabilized by hydrogen bond formation between the hetero atoms in the barbituric acid ring and the secondary hydroxyl groups on the rim of the cyclodextrin. The (13)C NMR chemical shifts of C4 and C6 carbons in the barbituric acid ring were moved upfield significantly by the inclusion complexation. On the other hand, B and BA could form only one type of complex, the lid-type supramolecular complex with small association constants.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions in neurons of pontine nuclei in patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies.

Patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) were studied, and cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in some of the remaining neurons of the pontine nuclei, nuclei reticularis tegmenti pontis and arcuate nuclei. The cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions were demonstrated by silver impregnation techniques such as Bielschowsky and Bodian staining. With hematoxylin and eosin stain, the inclusions were sharply demarcated and appeared pale. The inclusions were not stained by the following routine histological methods: Klüver-Barrera, phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, Holzer, periodic acid-Schiff, Mallory azan, alcian blue, nile blue, Masson trichrome, Congo red, thioflavine S, oil red O and Sudan black B stains. Immunohistochemistry with anti-ubiquitin antiserum showed that these inclusions were ubiquitinated. However, the inclusions did not react with any of the following antibodies (Abs) or antisera: anti-phosphorylated neurofilament (NF) Ab, anti-nonphosphorylated NF Abs (160 and 200 kDa), anti-paired helical filament antiserum, anti-tau antiserum, anti-tubulin Abs (alpha and beta), anti-microtubule-associated protein antiserum, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antiserum, anti-vimentin Ab, anti-desmin Ab, anti-cytokeratin Abs (low and high molecular weights), anti-actin antiserum, anti-skeletal myosin antiserum and anti-myelin basic protein Ab. Ultrastructurally, the inclusion bodies noted in OPCA were composed primarily of fibrils having a width ranging from about 24 to 40 nm, which were entirely coated with osmiophilic granular material along their whole length. They were occasionally intermingled with a few filaments about 10 nm in width. Electron microscopical examination on silver-impregnated specimens revealed that each granule-coated fibril had a great affinity for silver particles. In elucidating the pathogenesis of OPCA, it was considered to be an important neuropathological finding that some of the remaining pontine neurons affected by OPCA developed characteristic cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions.

Adult↗

Reversibility of neurofilamentous inclusion formation following repeated sublethal intracisternal inoculums of AlCl3 in New Zealand white rabbits.

In this report, we describe the clinical, topographical and immunohistochemical characteristics of neurofilament (NF) inclusion formation induced by the intracisternal inoculation of young adult New Zealand white rabbits at 28-day intervals with 100 micrograms AlCl3 over the course of 267 days. The ability to recover following cessation of aluminum exposure has also been assessed. The extent of neurofilamentous inclusion formation was proportionate to the cumulative amount of AlCl3 inoculated and initially consisted of fusiform axonal distention in the ventral spinal cord at day 51 following the initial inoculum. Spinal motor neuron perikaryal inclusions and discrete axonal spheroids were observed at day 107 and supraspinal neurofilamentous pathology by day 156. Perikaryal inclusions were immunoreactive to antibodies recognizing both poorly phosphorylated (SMI 32) and more highly phosphorylated high molecular weight NF (NFH). In contrast, axonal spheroids were intensely immunoreactive at all stages with antibodies recognizing highly phosphorylated NFH and an age-dependent NFH phosphorylation state (SMI 34) with only faint SMI 32 immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity to an antibody recognizing ubiquitin-protein conjugates did not appear until day 156, whereas inclusions were not immunoreactive to antibodies recognizing either phosphatase-dependent or -independent microtubule-associated protein tau at any stage. Upon withdrawal from further AlCl3 exposure after intervals of 51, 107 or 156 days following the initial inoculum, clinical recovery ensued in all rabbits. In all but the most severely affected rabbits, perikaryal neurofilamentous inclusions resolved. However, axonal spheroids continued to be prominent. These studies demonstrate that the repetitive intracisternal inoculation of AlCl3 in New Zealand white rabbits induces a reversible process of neurofilamentous inclusion formation that preferentially affects motor neurons, and in which recovery will occur in those inclusions containing an admixture of both poorly and highly phosphorylated NFH.

Aluminum Chloride↗

Biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions in morule-lacking adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder: a new category of "neoplastic/non-morular" lesions.

Biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions, also called "optically clear nuclei," are observed in various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions, including pregnancy-related endometrium and benign and malignant neoplasms with morular structures. A recent study reported that lesions with biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions can be classified as "(non-neoplastic) pregnancy-related endometrial" and as "(neoplastic) morular" category. In the present report, we describe two cases of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in which biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions were found without morular structures. Immunohistochemically, as reported previously, the intranuclear inclusions were positive for biotin and two biotin-binding enzymes (pyruvic acid carboxylase and propionyl CoA carboxylase). Intranuclear expression of beta-catenin was also observed in neoplastic cells with and without intranuclear inclusion. We also detected a frame shift mutation of APC gene in one case but no mutation of beta-catenin gene in both cases. Although intranuclear expression of beta-catenin by mutation of APC gene might contribute to carcinogenesis in our cases, the relationships among intranuclear expressions of beta-catenin, biotin, biotin-binding enzymes and intranuclear inclusions remain unclear. Our cases are the first neoplastic lesions with biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions that lacked morular structures. We propose a new "neoplastic/non-morular" category for lesions with biotin-rich intranuclear inclusions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Inclusions on fluid membranes anchored to elastic media.

We model theoretically the effect of localized forces on a fluid membrane anchored to a uniform elastic medium. We use this as a simple model for the plasma membrane of a cell. The atomic force microscope (AFM) has been used to apply such forces, but large membrane perturbations occurring in vivo are also treated within the same framework. Inclusions of this nature may include cell junctions, filipodia, caveolae, and similar membrane invaginations. The breakdown of linear elastic response, as observed by AFM, is predicted to occur for forces as small as 10 pN. We estimate the position of this crossover and the subsequent nonlinear behavior and make encouraging quantitative comparison with experiments. Intrinsic membrane inclusions interact through their overlapping strain fields. For similar, point force-like inclusions at large separations, this yields an attractive potential that scales like the inverse of their separation. For membranes that are intrinsically stiff or under tension, the binding force between inclusions can depend on the properties of the membrane and may be large enough to induce aggregation of inclusions, as observed experimentally. For inclusions that fix the magnitude of the membrane deformation, rather than the applied force, we demonstrate the possibility of metastable states, corresponding to finite separations. Finally, we discuss briefly the case in which inclusions couple to the membrane in more complex ways, such as via a torque (twist). In such cases, the interaction scales like a higher power of the separation, depends on the orientation of the inclusions, and can have either sign.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Inclusion complexes of Fe(III) tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin with cyclodextrins in aqueous solutions.

In aqueous solutions, inclusion complexation of Fe(III) tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (FeTSPP) with alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD), beta-CD, gamma-CD, and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CD (TM-beta-CD) has been examined by means of absorption and induced circular dichroism spectroscopy. FeTSPP has been found to form inclusion complexes with beta-CD, gamma-CD, and TM-beta-CD in pH 3.2 buffers. At pH 10.1, where FeTSPP self-associates to form an oxo-bridged dimer, FeTSPP also forms inclusion complexes with alpha-CD, beta-CD, gamma-CD, and TM-beta-CD. The stoichiometries of the CD-FeTSPP inclusion complexes are 1:1, except for TM-beta-CD in pH 10.1 buffers where its 1:1 inclusion complex associates with TM-beta-CD to form a 2:1 inclusion complex at high TM-beta-CD concentrations. Equilibrium constants of FeTSPP for the formation of the 1:1 inclusion complexes have been evaluated for beta-CD, gamma-CD, and TM-beta-CD. Induced circular dichroism spectra of FeTSPP in alpha-CD and beta-CD solutions exhibit a signal pattern (a negative sign) that is different from those in acidic and basic solutions containing gamma-CD and that in basic solution containing TM-beta-CD, suggesting different inclusion modes towards FeTSPP.

Circular Dichroism↗

Study on the inclusion complexes of cryptotanshinone with beta-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

The inclusion complexes of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and HP-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) with a kind of tanshinone, cryptotanshinone (CTan) were investigated by using spectrophotometry. Stable inclusion complexes were established in solution and in solid state and were characterized by UV, IR and 1H NMR spectra, respectively. The optimum pH for inclusion is about 7.5. Stoichiometry of the inclusion complex is 1:1. The stabilities of beta-CD and HP-beta-CD to CTan were in the order: beta-CD<HP-beta-CD. The effect of temperature on the inclusion interaction was examined and the thermodynamic parameters of inclusion process, DeltaG, DeltaH, DeltaS were determined. The experimental results indicated that the inclusion process was an exothermic and enthalpy-driven process. Special configuration of the inclusion complexes was proposed by 1D, 2D NMR.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

The influence of anisotropic membrane inclusions on curvature elastic properties of lipid membranes.

A membrane inclusion can be defined as a complex of protein or peptide and the surrounding significantly distorted lipids. We suggest a theoretical model that allows for the estimation of the influence of membrane inclusions on the curvature elastic properties of lipid membranes. Our treatment includes anisotropic inclusions whose energetics depends on their in-plane orientation within the membrane. On the basis of continuum elasticity theory, we calculate the inclusion-membrane interaction energy that reflects the protein or peptide-induced short-ranged elastic deformation of a bent lipid layer. A numerical estimate of the corresponding interaction constants indicates the ability of inclusions to sense membrane bending and to accumulate at regions of favorable curvature, matching the effective shape of the inclusions. Strongly anisotropic inclusions interact favorably with lipid layers that adopt saddlelike curvature; such structures may be stabilized energetically. We explore this possibility for the case of vesicle budding where we consider a shape sequence of closed, axisymmetric vesicles that form a (saddle-curvature adopting) membrane neck. It appears that not only isotropic but also strongly anisotropic inclusions can significantly contribute to the budding energetics, a finding that we discuss in terms of recent experiments.

Algorithms↗

Fluid inclusions in stony meteorites--a cautionary note.

Newly discovered fluid inclusions in thin sections of Bjurbole chondrules, shergottite EETA79001, lunar meteorite ALHA81005, and Apollo 16 glasses possess physical properties similar to those fluid inclusions found in thin sections of five stony meteorites recently described by Warner et al. (1983). The distribution and physical properties of these new fluid inclusions indicate they may be artifacts of thin section preparation; we suggest that saw coolant was sucked into vacuum vesicles in glasses and minerals through submicroscopic fractures produced during sawing. The similarities between these fluid inclusions and fluid inclusions previously described by Warner et al. (1983) lead us to conclude that many of the fluid inclusions reported earlier may be artifacts. Consequently, the origin of any fluid inclusions observed in thin sections of extraterrestrial materials must be interpreted with caution. The most probable true extraterrestrial fluid inclusions are those that have been observed in grains prepared without exposure to liquids of any kind.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗

Determination of the physical environment within the Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion using ion-selective ratiometric probes.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium with a biphasic life cycle that takes place entirely within a membrane-bound vacuole termed an inclusion. The chlamydial inclusion is non-fusogenic with endosomal or lysosomal compartments but intersects a pathway involved in transport of sphingomyelin from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. The physical conditions within the mature chlamydial inclusion are unknown. We used ratiometric imaging with membrane-permeant, ion-selective fluorescent dyes for microanalyis of the physical environment within the inclusion. Determination of H+, Na+, K+ and Ca(2+) concentrations using CFDA (carboxy fluorescein diacetate) or BCECF-AM (2',7'-bis (2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester, SBFI-AM, PBFI-AM and fura-PE3-acetomethoxyester (Fura-PE3-AM), respectively, indicated that all ions assayed within the lumenal space of the inclusion approximated the concentrations within the cytoplasm. Stimulation of purinergic receptors by addition of extracellular ATP triggered a dynamic Ca(2+) response that occurred simultaneously within the cytoplasm and interior of the inclusion. The chlamydial inclusion thus appears to be freely permeable to cytoplasmic ions. These results have implications for nutrient acquisition by chlamydiae and may contribute to the non-fusogenicity of the inclusion with endocytic compartments.

Animals↗

Intranuclear inclusions in plasma cells and lymphocytes from patients with monoclonal gammopathies.

Ultrastructural studies of intranuclear inclusions in plasma cells and lymphocytes from patients with different forms of monoclonal gammopathies are presented. The inclusions occurred as two distinct morphologic and ultrastructural types. In three patients, two with IgA myeloma and one with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, the inclusions were variably PAS-positive in routine sections and composed of electron-light amorphous material ultrastructurally. In one patient with an IgG monoclonal gammopathy, the plasma cells contained inclusions that were PAS negative by light microscopy and primarily osmiophilic ultrastructurally. One patient with an immunoblastic sarcoma and an IgM monoclonal had plasma cells with numerous inclusions of both types. There was a distinct spatial relationship between the electron-light amorphous material and the osmiophilic deposits in many of the inclusions in cells from this patient. In cells from two patients in which osmiophilic inclusions were found, they were present in the cytoplasm as well as the nucleus. The intranuclear inclusions appeared to develop from accumulation of material in the perinuclear cisterna, resulting in single or multiple invaginations of the nuclear structure.

Bone Marrow↗