SEARCH · Search PubMed
Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Current knowledge of red cell membrane structure and function are briefly presented, and the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, and hereditary pyropoikilocytosis are discussed.
Boron is a ubiquitous constituent of man's external environment. Levels of the element in human blood reflect both acute and chronic exposure, usually as dietary intake (food and drinking water). There is an absolute requirement for boron in vascular plants but evidence for biological essentiality in animals (including man) is limited. A high body burden of the element may be harmful, especially to young animals (including human neonates). Information on boron deficiency is scanty. It has been proposed that boron contributes to living systems by acting indirectly as a proton donor and that it exerts a particular influence on cell membrane structure and function. The present study examines the variation in blood levels within and between human sibships and provides some support for the possibility that boron metabolism is subject to genetic regulation.
Developmental and cell biologists viewed polarity through each other's eyes at the EMBO workshop on Epithelial Polarity in Development and Disease, March 27-31 2004, in Carry-le-Rouet, France, a small village west of Marseille on the rocky Mediterranean coast. The presentations highlighted our growing understanding, not only of the molecular mechanisms underlying polarity and the conservation of polarity complexes from worms to mammals, but also the diverse roles that epithelial polarity has during development.
Microtubules have long been implicated in the polarization of migrating cells, but how they carry out this role is unclear. Here, we propose that microtubules determine cell polarity by modulating the pattern of adhesions that a cell develops with the underlying matrix, through focal inhibitions of contractility.
Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) water channels are expressed widely in microvascular endothelia outside of the central nervous system, including renal vasa recta and tumor microvessels, as well as in non-vascular endothelia in pleura, peritoneum, cornea, and lymphatics. In kidney, AQP1-facilitated water transport in outer medullary descending vasa recta is likely an important component of the urinary concentrating mechanism. However, in most vascular endothelia outside of kidney, it remains uncertain whether AQP1 expression and high water permeability are physiologically important. AQP1 in non-vascular endothelia at the inner corneal surface is involved in the maintenance of corneal transparency. Recently, a new role of AQP1 in endothelial cell migration was discovered in analyzing the cause of defective tumor angiogenesis in AQP1-deficient mice. AQP1 facilitates endothelial cell migration by a mechanism that may involve facilitated water transport across cell protrusions (lamellipodia). AQP1 inhibitors may thus have aquaretic and antiangiogenic activity.
Eukaryotic cells possess highly sophisticated membrane trafficking pathways that define specific membrane domains and provide a means for moving vesicles between them (Mostov, Su, and ter Beest, 2003, Nat. Cell Biol. 5, 287-293). Here, I review recent data that indicate a role for membrane trafficking in mRNA localization. Specifically, I review evidence that some localized mRNAs are anchored to specific membrane domains and/or transported on membranous organelles or vesicles to specific subcellular sites. This review is not intended as a discussion on indirect influences of membrane trafficking on mRNA localization. I will not, for example, discuss the role of membrane trafficking in the regulation of extracellular signalling events that could indirectly influence mRNA localization through polarization of the actin or microtubule cytoskeleton (for examples, see reviews by Drubin and Nelson, 1996, Cell 84, 335-344; Shulman and St Johnston, 1999, Trends Cell Biol. 9, M60-M64).
Lipid peroxidation of mitochondrial and cell membrane structures is the final step in the oxygen radical-induced damage observed at reperfusion of kidneys after ischaemia. We compared the ability of an indeno-indol compound (code name H290/51) with that of alpha-tocopherol to inhibit lipid peroxidation in reoxygenated isolated rat renal tissue in vitro measured as production of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). H290/51 was 100 times more efficient than alpha-tocopherol. Treatment of rats in vivo with H290/51 in a dosage giving a plasma concentration of 500 nmol L-1 inhibited TBARS production measured in vitro by 80%. Treatment of rabbits with H290/51 almost completely inhibited radical production at reperfusion after 60 min of ischaemia measured with spin trap technique using OXANOH (2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-2,4,4-trimethyloxazolidine) as a spin trap. Furthermore, such pretreatment significantly improved kidney function and survival of rabbits subjected to 60 min of ischaemia to the left kidney and contralateral nephrectomy. These studies stress the importance of inhibiting lipid peroxidation to prevent the ischaemia-reperfusion damage and furthermore suggest a role for treatment with antioxidants like H290/51 in clinical practice, e.g. at reconstructive renal surgery and transplantation.
Cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) express K+-dependent (NCKX) and K+-independent (NCX) plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchangers which, under plasma membrane-depolarizing conditions and high cytosolic [Na+], may reverse and mediate potentially toxic Ca2+ influx. To examine this possibility, we inhibited NCX or NCKX with KB-R7943 or K+-free medium, respectively, and studied how gramicidin affects cytosolic [Ca2+] and 45Ca2+ accumulation. Gramicidin forms pores permeable to alkali cations but not Ca2+. Therefore, gramicidin-induced Ca2+ influx is indirect; it results from fluxes of monovalent cations. In the presence of Na+, but not Li+ or Cs+, gramicidin induced Ca2+ influx that was inhibited by simultaneous application of KB-R7943 and K+-free medium. The data indicate that gramicidin-induced Na+ influx reverses NCX and NCKX. To test the role of NCX and/or NCKX in excitotoxicity, we studied how NMDA affects the viability of glucose-deprived and depolarized CGCs. To assure depolarization of the plasma membrane, we inhibited Na+,K+-ATPase with ouabain. Although inhibition of NCX or NCKX reversal failed to significantly limit 45Ca2+ accumulation and excitotoxicity, simultaneously inhibiting NCX and NCKX reversal was neuroprotective and significantly decreased NMDA-induced 45Ca2+ accumulation. Our data suggest that NMDA-induced Na+ influx reverses NCX and NCKX and leads to the death of depolarized and glucose-deprived neurons.
It is becoming increasingly clear that herpesviruses can exploit the endocytic pathway to infect cells, yet several important features of this process remain poorly defined. Using herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) as a model, we demonstrate that endocytosis of the virions mimic many features of phagocytosis. During entry, HSV-1 virions associated with plasma membrane protrusions followed by a phagocytosis-like uptake involving rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton and trafficking of the virions in large phagosome-like vesicles. RhoA GTPase was activated during this process and the mode of entry was cell type-specific. Clathrin-coated vesicles had no detectable role in virion trafficking as Eps15 dominant-negative mutants failed to affect HSV-1 uptake. Binding and fusion of the virion envelope with the phagosomal membrane is likely facilitated by clustering of nectin-1 (or HVEM) in phagosomes, which was observed in infected cells. Collectively, our data suggests a novel mode of uptake by which the virus can infect both professional and nonprofessional phagocytes.
Microtubules are important for the turnover of podosomes, dynamic, actin-rich adhesions implicated in migration and invasion of monocytic cells. The molecular basis for this functional dependency, however, remained unclear. Here, we show that contact by microtubule plus ends critically influences the cellular fate of podosomes in primary human macrophages. In particular, we identify the kinesin KIF1C, a member of the Kinesin-3 family, as a plus-end-enriched motor that targets regions of podosome turnover. Expression of mutation constructs or small interfering RNA-/short hairpin RNA-based depletion of KIF1C resulted in decreased podosome dynamics and ultimately in podosome deficiency. Importantly, protein interaction studies showed that KIF1C binds to nonmuscle myosin IIA via its PTPD-binding domain, thus providing an interface between the actin and tubulin cytoskeletons, which may facilitate the subcellular targeting of podosomes by microtubules. This is the first report to implicate a kinesin in podosome regulation and also the first to describe a function for KIF1C in human cells.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to attempt to get further insight into the mechanism of the cardioprotective action of phosphocreatine (PCr). DESIGN: Three experimental protocols were used: (1) The effect was examined of exogenous PCr (10 mmol.litre-1) on myocardial oxidative damage produced by H2O2 perfusion (90 mumol.litre-1) of isolated rat heart. (2) Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 35 min cardioplegic ischaemia followed by reperfusion. A control group was studied along with two PCr groups, one corrected for Ca2+ to compensate its binding with PCr (1.4 mmol.litre-1 CaCl2 in St Thomas's Hospital cardioplegic solution), and the other not (1.2 mmol.litre-1). (3) The effect was studied of PCr alone and in combination with the antioxidant tocopherol phosphate (0.1 mumol.litre-1) on contractile and metabolic recovery of isolated rat heart reperfused after 40 min cardioplegic ischaemia. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL: Studies were performed on hearts of 84 male Wistar rats, weighing 250-300 g. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: (1) Oxidative stress resulted in irreversible contracture and impairment of sarcolemmal integrity revealed by using the transmembrane tracer ionic lanthanum. These effects coincided with the decrease of developed pressure from 116 (SEM 3) to 38(3) mm Hg and rate-pressure product from 498(13) to 165(16) mm Hg.s-1. The Ca2+ binding property of PCr was estimated experimentally and the stability constant of the complex CaPCr was found to be 35.4(0.7) mmol; from this the Ca2+ bound by PCr was calculated to be 14% in the experimental conditions used. Ca2+ concentration in K-H buffer containing PCr was increased to compensate its binding with PCr. PCr prevented H2O2 induced contracture, preserved sarcolemmal integrity, and attenuated H2O2 induced decrease in developed pressure and rate-pressure product [73(6) mm Hg and 340(28) mm H.s-1, respectively, p less than 0.05 compared with control]. (2) PCr reduced the diastolic pressure [29(10) v 68(10) mm Hg in control group at 30 min of reperfusion, p less than 0.05] and enhanced the developed pressure [81(10) v 46(10) mm Hg in controls, p less than 0.05] and rate-pressure product [325(44) v 158(40) mm Hg.s-1 in controls, p less than 0.05]. When CaCl2 was increased to 1.4 mmol.litre-1 the protective effect of PCr was not abolished. (3) PCr resulted in improvement of developed pressure [49(7) v 18(5) mm Hg in controls at 40 min of reperfusion, p less than 0.05] and rate-pressure product [184(27) v 71(20) mm Hg.s-1 in controls, p less than 0.05]. The degree of contractile recovery in the tocopherol group was almost the same as in the PCr group. Combined addition of PCr and tocopherol further increased the developed pressure and rate-pressure product to 72(4) mm Hg and 284(23) mm Hg.s-1, respectively. Similarly, PCr and tocopherol in combination provided substantial inhibition of creatine kinase release into perfusate, at 3.8(0.4) v 10.9(2.5) IU in controls, p less than 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: PCr decreases the vulnerability of myocardium to oxidative stress and ischaemic damage. These effects cannot be explained by PCr induced shifts in Ca2+ concentration. Protective effects of PCr and tocopherol are quantitatively additive, most probably due to their different mechanisms of action, and tocopherol may be effective in extending the ability of PCr to stabilise cell membrane structure.
The biochemical abnormalities associated with heart failure include dysfunction of contractile proteins, functional impairment of energy-linked enzymes and disruption of cell membrane structure. The haemodynamic impairment resulting from cardiac dysfunction activates several neurohormonal systems, notably the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympatho-adrenal system and vasopressin release, whilst clinically important factors include an enlarged heart, increased systolic wall stress and an increased myocardial oxygen demand. An inverse relationship exists between systolic wall stress (afterload) and contractile function in heart failure. Moreover the increased systolic wall stress that occurs as a result of reduced cardiac output raises myocardial oxygen consumption, causing cardiac function to deteriorate still further. Diastolic abnormalities play an important role in hypertrophic disorders, in ventricular dilatation and in cases of myocardial ischaemia. The therapeutic objectives are therefore to decrease heart size, to reduce wall stress and oxygen demand, and to enhance diastolic distensibility.
The permeability of the Chlorella pyrenoidosa membrane was studied by following the efflux of (14)C-intracellular material from cells which had been allowed to incorporate (14)CO(2) photosynthetically. It was observed that the efflux increased upon treatment with low concentrations (3-30 muM) of 2, 3-dichloro-1, 4-naphthoquinone (dichlone), 2-amino-3-chloro-1, 4-naphthoquinone (06K-quinone), and 2, 3, 5, 6-tetrachloro-1, 4-benzoquinone (chloranil). Dichlone caused a greater loss of intracellular material than chloranil or 06K-quinone. The rate of loss as well as the total loss of (14)C increased with an increase in the concentration of the quinones. In the dichlone-treated cells, the leakage was observed within 1 minute of the addition of the chemical and the effect on cell permeability was irreversible. Cells exposed to dichlone in the light or under anaerobic conditions released significantly greater amounts of (14)C-material than cells treated in the dark or under aerobic conditions. The aqueous ethanol-soluble fraction of the cell was found to be the source of the released material. The proportion of the ethanol-soluble (14)C that leaked out of the cell varied with the time of (14)C-assimilation prior to treatment with dichlone. In the dichlone-treated cells, practically all the (14)C-sucrose, alanine, glutamine, serine, and glycine leaked out, whereas glutamic, aspartic, succinic, and fumaric acids were lost only partially. Essentially no (14)C-lipids were lost from the cells during dichlone treatment.The extreme rapidity of the effect of dichlone on permeability and the low concentrations at which dichlone acted suggest that the cell membrane may be a primary site of action of dichlone, and that the metabolic changes observed in dichlone-treated Chlorella may be due to the changes in the cell membrane structure.
Trends in the evolution of the euglenid pellicle were described using phylogenetic methods on 18S rDNA, morphological, and combined data from 25 mostly phototrophic taxa. The tree topology from a total-evidence analysis formed a template for a synthetic tree that took into account conflicting results derived from the partitioned datasets. Pellicle character states that can only be observed with the assistance of transmission and scanning electron microscopy were phylogenetically mapped onto the synthetic tree to test a set of previously established homology statements (inferences made independently from a cladogram). The results permitted us to more confidently infer the ancestral-derived polarities of character state transformations and provided a framework for understanding the key cytoskeletal innovations associated with the evolution of phototrophic euglenids. We specifically addressed the character evolution of (1) the maximum number of pellicle strips around the cell periphery; (2) the patterns of terminating strips near the cell posterior end; (3) the substructural morphology of pellicle strips; (4) the morphology of the cell posterior tip; and (5) patterns of pellicle pores on the cell surface.
Rheological studies of lysed cell suspensions are performed with a magneto acoustic ball microrheometer. Two methods for lysing the cells are developed in order to provide cell volume concentrations identical to control intact cell suspensions. The first uses a freeze-thaw technique and the second uses sonication. It is found that cell suspensions disrupted by sonication have a lower viscosity than intact suspensions, whereas cell suspensions lysed by the freeze-thaw method exhibit a higher viscosity. Sonication is discovered to have a detrimental impact on the cell membrane, and to cause complete destruction of the cell membrane structure. Measurements of the steady state viscosity show that indeed the presence of the membrane is not detected, and that what is measured is mainly the viscosity of the hemoglobin solution. On the other hand, freeze-thaw results indicate that at least two phenomena occur. The first phenomenon, occurring during the first freeze-thaw cycle, produces an increase in viscosity and in viscoelasticity. The second one, taking place after subsequent freeze-thaw cycles, induces a decrease in the bulk rheological properties. Several possible mechanisms are presented to explain the observed phenomena.
The replication of many viruses is associated with specific intracellular compartments called virus factories or virioplasm. These are thought to provide a physical scaffold to concentrate viral components and thereby increase the efficiency of replication. The formation of virus replication sites often results in rearrangement of cellular membranes and reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Similar rearrangements are seen in cells in response to protein aggregation, where aggresomes and autophagosomes are produced to facilitate protein degradation. Here I review the evidence that some viruses induce aggresomes and autophagosomes to generate sites of replication.
The insertion of oxygenated sterol compounds into human red blood cell membranes as well as the consequent transformation of the red cells to an echinocyte shape and the expansion of the membranes are impeded by the presence of serum lipoproteins in the incubation medium. All density classes of human serum lipoproteins bind oxygenated sterol compounds, and lipoproteins can act as acceptors of oxygenated sterols previously inserted into red cells. Since oxygenated sterols have been reported to be atherogenic, the modulating and possibly protective effects of serum lipoproteins on oxygenated sterol-induced derangement of cell membrane structure and function may provide a useful model for further study.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite, is the ligand for five specific G protein-coupled receptors, named S1P(1) to S1P(5). In this study, we found that cross-communication between platelet-derived growth factor receptor and S1P(2) serves as a negative damper of PDGF functions. Deletion of the S1P(2) receptor dramatically increased migration of mouse embryonic fibroblasts toward S1P, serum, and PDGF but not fibronectin. This enhanced migration was dependent on expression of S1P(1) and sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), the enzyme that produces S1P, as revealed by downregulation of their expression with antisense RNA and small interfering RNA, respectively. Although S1P(2) deletion had no significant effect on tyrosine phosphorylation of the PDGF receptors or activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 or Akt induced by PDGF, it reduced sustained PDGF-dependent p38 phosphorylation and markedly enhanced Rac activation. Surprisingly, S1P(2)-null cells not only exhibited enhanced proliferation but also markedly increased SphK1 expression and activity. Conversely, reintroduction of S1P(2) reduced DNA synthesis and expression of SphK1. Thus, S1P(2) serves as a negative regulator of PDGF-induced migration and proliferation as well as SphK1 expression. Our results suggest that a complex interplay between PDGFR and S1P receptors determines their functions.