Effect of transbilayer phospholipid distribution on erythrocyte fusion

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 623-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen K. Tullius ◽  
Patrick Williamson ◽  
Robert A. Schlegel

Phospholipid packing has been suggested as a relevant variable in the control of membrane fusion events. To test this possibility in a model system, a comparison was made of the fusability of erythrocytes with a normal asymmetric transbilayer distribution of plasma membrane phospholipids (tightly packed exterior lipids) and erythrocytes with a symmetric transbilayer distribution of phospholipids (more loosely packed exterior lipids), using polyethylene glycol as fusogen. Not only were lipid-symmetric cells more readily fused, but fusions of mixtures of lipid-symmetric and lipid-asymmetric cells indicated that both fusing partners must have a symmetric distribution for fusion to be enhanced. Lipid-symmetric cells may fuse more readily because loose packing of the exterior lipids enhances hydrophobic interactions between cells. Alternatively, enhanced membrane fluidity may facilitate intramembranous particle clustering, previously implicated as a potentiator of fusion. Finally, exposure of phosphatidylserine on the surface of lipid-symmetric erythrocytes may be responsible for their enhanced fusion.


1991 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Nangalama ◽  
G. P. Moberg

ABSTRACT In several species, glucocorticoids act directly on the pituitary gonadotroph to suppress the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced secretion of the gonadotrophins, especially LH. A mechanism for this action of these adrenal steroids has not been established, but it appears that the glucocorticoids influence LH release by acting on one or more post-receptor sites. This study investigated whether glucocorticoids disrupt GnRH-induced LH release by altering the liberation of arachidonic acid from plasma membrane phospholipids, a component of GnRH-induced LH release. Using perifused ovine pituitary tissue, it was established that exposure of gonadotrophs to 1–1000 nmol cortisol/l for 4 h or longer significantly reduced GnRH-stimulated LH release with the maximal inhibitory effect being observed after 6 h of exposure to cortisol. This suppressive effect of cortisol could be reversed by administration of arachidonic acid, which in its own right could stimulate LH release from ovine pituitary tissue. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of cortisol on GnRH-stimulated LH release could be directly correlated with decreased pituitary responsiveness to GnRH-stimulated arachidonic acid liberation, consistent with our hypothesis that glucocorticoids can suppress GnRH-induced secretion of LH by reducing the amount of arachidonic acid available for the exocytotic response of GnRH. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 131, 87–94



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Gass ◽  
Sarah Borkowsky ◽  
Marie-Luise Lotz ◽  
Rita Schroeter ◽  
Pavel Nedvetsky ◽  
...  

Drosophila nephrocytes are an emerging model system for mammalian podocytes and podocyte-associated diseases. Like podocytes, nephrocytes exhibit characteristics of epithelial cells, but the role of phospholipids in polarization of these cells is yet unclear. In epithelia phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and phosphatidylinositol(3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) are asymmetrically distributed in the plasma membrane and determine apical-basal polarity. Here we demonstrate that both phospholipids are present in the plasma membrane of nephrocytes, but only PI(4,5)P2 accumulates at slit diaphragms. Knockdown of Skittles, a phosphatidylinositol(4)phosphate 5-kinase, which produces PI(4,5)P2, abolished slit diaphragm formation and led to strongly reduced endocytosis. Notably, reduction in PI(3,4,5)P3 by overexpression of PTEN or expression of a dominant-negative phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase did not affect nephrocyte function, whereas enhanced formation of PI(3,4,5)P3 by constitutively active phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase resulted in strong slit diaphragm and endocytosis defects by ectopic activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. Thus, PI(4,5)P2 but not PI(3,4,5)P3 is essential for slit diaphragm formation and nephrocyte function. However, PI(3,4,5)P3 has to be tightly controlled to ensure nephrocyte development.



2010 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 428-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason S. Weinstein ◽  
Kenneth C. Liu ◽  
Johnny B. Delashaw ◽  
Kim J. Burchiel ◽  
Harry R. van Loveren ◽  
...  

Object The DuraSeal dural sealant system, a polyethylene glycol hydrogel, has been shown to be safe and effective when used with commercial and autologous duraplasty materials. The authors report on the safety and effectiveness of this sealant when used in conjunction with nonautologous duraplasty materials. Methods In this retrospective, nonrandomized, multicenter study, the safety and efficacy of a dural sealant system was assessed in conjunction with primarily collagen-based nonautologous duraplasty materials in a sample of 66 patients undergoing elective cranial procedures at 3 institutions. This cohort was compared with 50 well-matched patients from the DuraSeal Pivotal Trial who were treated with this sealant system and autologous duraplasty material. Results The key end points of the study were the incidences of CSF leaks, surgical site infections, and meningitis 90 days after surgery. The incidence of postoperative CSF leakage was 7.6% in the study group (retrospective population) and 6.0% in the Pivotal Trial population. The incidence of meningitis was 0% and 4.0% in the retrospective and Pivotal Trial groups, respectively. There were no serious device-related adverse events or unanticipated adverse device effects noted for either population. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the DuraSeal sealant system is safe and effective when used for watertight dural closure in conjunction with nonautologous duraplasty materials.



1988 ◽  
Vol 253 (2) ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Field ◽  
E A Ryan ◽  
A B Thomson ◽  
M T Clandinin

Control and diabetic rats were fed on semi-purified high-fat diets providing a polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S) of 1.0 or 0.25, to examine the effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of major phospholipids of the adipocyte plasma membrane. Feeding the high-P/S diet (P/S = 1.0) compared with the low-P/S diet (P/S = 0.25) increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids in both control and diabetic animals. The diabetic state decreased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid, in adipocyte membrane phospholipids. The decrease in arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids of diabetic animals tended to be normalized to within the control values when high-P/S diets were given. For control animals, altered plasma-membrane composition was associated with change in insulin binding, suggesting that change in plasma-membrane composition may have physiological consequences for insulin-stimulated functions in the adipocyte.



Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Tang ◽  
Kuanjun Fang ◽  
Yawei Song ◽  
Fuyun Sun

The jetting performance of dye inks determines the image quality, production efficiency, and lifetime of the print head. In the present study, we explored the jetting performance of mixed solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and reactive dye by testing the visible absorption spectra, rheological properties, and surface tension, in addition to the observation of droplet formation. The results indicate that PEG macromolecules could change the aggregate groups of Red 218 molecules into smaller ones through hydrophobic interactions and separation effect. The addition of PEG into the dye solution increased the viscosity and decreased the surface tension. In the whole shear rate range tested, the 10% and 20% PEG400, as well as the 30% PEG200 dye solutions, showed good Newtonian fluid behavior. PEG macromolecules improved the droplet formation of the dye solutions. Increasing the PEG400 concentration to 30% and 40% resulted in elimination of the formation of satellites and the formation of ideal droplets at 10,000 Hz jetting frequency. A 30% PEG600-dye solution with the Z value of 4.6 formed the best spherical droplets at 10,000 Hz and produced perfect color images on cotton fabrics.



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