Ultrastructural Characterization of Platelet-Activating Factor-Stimulated Human Eosinophils from Patients with Asthma

1993 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus Kroegel ◽  
Ann Dewar ◽  
Tatsuo Yukawa ◽  
Per Venge ◽  
Peter J. Barnes ◽  
...  

1. Purified human eosinophils from asthmatic patients were stimulated with platelet-activating factor in vitro and examined for morphological changes by transmission electron and light microscopy. Changes were also evaluated by morphometric analysis and were related to the platelet-activating factor-stimulated release of granular eosinophil cationic protein. 2. Stimulation of eosinophils with platelet-activating factor induced a dose-dependent shape change, including the elongation of cells, loss of microvilli and the formation of lamellipodia. This effect was maximal at 25 min and was reversible. 3. Stimulation with platelet-activating factor also induced granule movement to the cell periphery and fusion of adjacent granules. Granules became swollen and vesiculated, whereas both the matrix and core showed evidence of solubilization. 4. There was a time-dependent secretion of eosinophilic cationic protein from human eosinophils upon stimulation with platelet-activating factor which occurred without significant lactate dehydrogenase release. 5. Morphometric analysis of the transmission electron micrographs indicated a significant reduction in cytoplasmic area after 10 min of incubation with platelet-activating factor from 39.0 ± 1.7 μm2 for untreated eosinophils to 33.2 ± 2.3 μm2 (P < 0.02) for platelet-activating factor-treated cells, underscoring the observation that the cells change from spherical to ellipsoidal. No significant increase in the perimeter of the cells was found. 6. The number of granule-profiles in platelet-activating factor-stimulated eosinophils was slightly reduced when compared with control, and an increase in granule area was observed 10 min after platelet-activating factor challenge (0.215 ± 0.011 μm2 versus 0.246 ± 0.016 μm2). 7. Human eosinophils from patients with asthma stimulated with platelet-activating factor undergo both cellular and granular alterations and reorganization which parallel the release of granular eosinophil basic protein.

Author(s):  
John C. Garancis ◽  
Robert O. Hussa ◽  
Michael T. Story ◽  
Donald Yorde ◽  
Roland A. Pattillo

Human malignant trophoblast cells in continuous culture were incubated for 3 days in medium containing 1 mM N6-O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) and 1 mM theophylline. The culture fluid was replenished daily. Stimulated cultures secreted many times more chorionic gonadotropin and estrogens than did control cultures in the absence of increased cellular proliferation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed remarkable surface changes of stimulated cells. Control cells (not stimulated) were smooth or provided with varying numbers of microvilli (Fig. 1). The latter, usually, were short and thin. The surface features of stimulated cells were considerably different. There was marked increase of microvilli which appeared elongated and thick. Many cells were covered with confluent polypoid projections (Fig. 2). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated marked activity of cytoplasmic organelles. Mitochondria were increased in number and size; some giant forms with numerous cristae were observed.


Parasitology ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Laclette ◽  
Marie Therese Merchant ◽  
Kaethe Willms ◽  
L. Cañedo

SUMMARYThe effect of the anthelmintic Mebendazole on Cysticercus cellulosae maintained in culture medium was studied by transmission electron microscopy. In addition to the well-known morphological changes induced by Mebendazole in other cestode and nematode larvae, it also induced the cytoplasmic appearance of paracrystalline bundles in the secretory cells of the bladder wall. These bundles were formed by groups of large parallel tubules arranged in a hexagonal-like pattern. The tubules, which had an external diameter of about 50 nm and a length that might exceed 5 μm, were surrounded by a matrix and a distance between neighbouring tubules of 80–120 nm centre to centre was estimated. The tubules were stable to colchicine and low temperature. The temporary appearance of bundles is described and some alternative explanations on their origin are advanced.


Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1836-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Warringa ◽  
HJ Mengelers ◽  
PH Kuijper ◽  
JA Raaijmakers ◽  
PL Bruijnzeel ◽  
...  

Abstract The cytokines granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM- CSF), interleukin (IL)-3, and IL-5 are important modulators of eosinophilia and eosinophil function. Eosinophil chemotaxis is known to be particularly sensitive for cytokine priming. In the present study, we compared chemotactic responses of eosinophils derived from peripheral blood of allergic asthmatics to responses of eosinophils from peripheral blood of healthy individuals. Eosinophils from allergic asthmatics exhibited a markedly increased sensitivity in their chemotactic response toward platelet-activating factor (PAF) compared with eosinophils from normal donors. In contrast, C5a-induced eosinophil chemotaxis between both groups was similar. This in vivo- primed phenotype could be mimicked in vitro, by preincubating eosinophils from peripheral blood of healthy individuals with picomolar concentrations of either GM-CSF, IL-3, or IL-5. The chemotactic response of eosinophils derived from the circulation of allergic asthmatic patients toward GM-CSF was significantly lower compared with the response of eosinophils of healthy individuals. Our data strongly suggest that release of cytokines may be an important in vivo priming mechanism for eosinophils in the circulation of allergic asthmatic patients. Such an in vivo priming can subsequently result in selective upregulation and downregulation of chemotactic responses toward various chemoattractants release in the lung tissue.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
S E Pfeiffer ◽  
H Jakob ◽  
K Mikoshiba ◽  
P Dubois ◽  
J L Guenet ◽  
...  

A line of embryonal carcinoma cells, PCC7-S, established in vitro from a spontaneous testicular teratocarcinoma, has been studied. Upon removing the cells from a low density monolayer culture system and permitting the cells to form aggregates in suspension, we observed a change of several physical and biochemical parameters: (a) reduction in average cell volume, (b) blockage and accumulation of cells in G1, (c) rise in secreted protease activity, (d) rise in acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities, and (e) disappearance of embryonic antigen F9. Although PCC7 aggregates did not undergo substantial morphological changes while suspended, when aggregates 4 or more days old were allowed to attach to plastic tissue culture dishes, substantial neurite outgrowth occurred over the next 1-3 d. This process was markedly enhanced by the addition to the growth medium of carboxymethylcellulose and inhibitors of DNA synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy disclosed a neurite ultrastructure consistent with that of neuronal processes. A veratridine-stimulated, tetrodotoxin-blocked sodium influx of 100 nmol/min per mg protein was also observed in these differentiated surface cultures. This cell line is discussed in terms of its utility for the study of early events leading to a commitment to cellular differentiation, as well as for the investigation of terminal differentiation to cholinergic neurons.


2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene den Otter ◽  
Luuk N.A. Willems ◽  
Annemarie van Schadewijk ◽  
Simone van Wijngaarden ◽  
Kirsten Janssen ◽  
...  

Which inflammatory markers in the bronchial mucosa of asthma patients are associated with decline of lung function during 14 years of prospective follow-up?To address this question, 19 mild-to-moderate, atopic asthmatic patients underwent spirometry and bronchoscopy at baseline and after 14 years of follow-up (t=14). Baseline bronchial biopsies were analysed for reticular layer thickness, eosinophil cationic protein (EG2), mast cell tryptase (AA1), CD3, CD4 and CD8. Follow-up biopsies were stained for EG2, AA1, neutrophil elastase, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, granzyme B, CD68, DC-SIGN, Ki67 and mucins.Decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted was highest in patients with high CD8 (p=0.01, both pre- and post-bronchodilator) or high CD4 counts at baseline (p=0.04 pre-bronchodilator, p=0.03 post-bronchodilator). Patients with high CD8, CD3 or granzyme B counts at t=14 also exhibited faster decline in FEV1 (p=0.00 CD8 pre-bronchodilator, p=0.04 CD8 post-bronchodilator, p=0.01 granzyme B pre-bronchodilator, and p<0.01 CD3 pre-bronchodilator).Long-term lung function decline in asthma is associated with elevation of bronchial CD8 and CD4 at baseline, and CD8, CD3 and granzyme B at follow-up. This suggests that high-risk groups can be identified on the basis of inflammatory phenotypes.


2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 1895-1901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria do Socorro S. Rosa ◽  
Ricardo R. Mendonça-Filho ◽  
Humberto R. Bizzo ◽  
Igor de Almeida Rodrigues ◽  
Rosangela Maria A. Soares ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The in vitro leishmanicidal effects of a linalool-rich essential oil from the leaves of Croton cajucara against Leishmania amazonensis were investigated. Morphological changes in L. amazonensis promastigotes treated with 15 ng of essential oil per ml were observed by transmission electron microscopy; leishmanial nuclear and kinetoplast chromatin destruction, followed by cell lysis, was observed within 1 h. Pretreatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages with 15 ng of essential oil per ml reduced by 50% the interaction between these macrophages and L. amazonensis, with a concomitant increase by 220% in the level of nitric oxide production by the infected macrophages. Treatment of preinfected macrophages with 15 ng of essential oil per ml reduced by 50% the interaction between these cells and the parasites, which led to a 60% increase in the amount of nitric oxide produced by the preinfected macrophages. These results provide new perspectives on the development of drugs with activities against Leishmania, as linalool-rich essential oil is a strikingly potent leishmanicidal plant extract (50% lethal doses, 8.3 ng/ml for promastigotes and 8.7 ng/ml for amastigotes) which inhibited the growth of L. amazonensis promastigotes at very low concentrations (MIC, 85.0 pg/ml) and which presented no cytotoxic effects against mammalian cells.


2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-253
Author(s):  
Snezana Kovacevic ◽  
Mirjana Bogic ◽  
Aleksandra Peric-Popadic ◽  
Sanvila Raskovic ◽  
Zikica Jovicic ◽  
...  

Activated eosinophilic leukocyte in asthma secretes numerous mediators, among which is ECP as well. The object of our study was to measure the serum ECP concentrations in 46 asthmatic patients with exacerabating and stable asthma, and to correlate the serum ECP concentrations with severity and exacerbation of the disease. Geometric mean of ECP in serum (Gecp) in our group of patients was 7.5 mcg/l, while it was 3.05 mcg/l in the 15 healthy subjects (controls). Highly significant correlation of serum ECP concentrations with the activity of the disease (R=0.897) and the severity of clinical picture (R=0.79) was found. The patients with stable asthma had significant correlation of ECP and the severity of disease (R=0.6). The patients with exacerbating asthma have significantly higher serum ECP concentrations than the patients with stable asthma. Serum ECP concentrations in patients with exacerbating asthma correlate with the severity of the disease.


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