Immune cytolysis. 1. The release of ribonucleoprotein particles. 2. Membrane-bounded structures arising during cell fragmentation

Immune cytolysis: electron microscopic localization of cellular antigens with ferritin-antibody conjugates

Immune gamma globulin has been coupled to ferritin by the diisocyanate method of Singer. The final product ("ferroglobulin") had approximately 13 per cent of its gamma globulin coupled to ferritin, and roughly half of its ferritin coupled to gamma globulin. The uncoupled gamma globulin could be removed by ultracentrifugal sedimentation of the free ferritin and the ferritin-antibody conjugates. The characteristics of the native antibody were retained by the ferritin-antibody conjugates, for they could be precipitated by anti-gamma globulin antisera, and when used as antibodies, they reacted specifically with soluble and cellular antigens. Ferroglobulin preparations made from rabbit antisera against whole ascites tumor cells were incubated with the cells, and the location of ferritin determined by electron microscopy of thin-sectioned material. It was found that the immune ferroglobulins localized specifically on antigens of the cell membrane. Some of the ferritin label entered the cells by pinocytosis, but the ferritin-antibody units did not appear able to pass directly through the cell membrane into the cytoplasmic matrix. When cells were incubated with ferritin-labeled antibody and complement, antibody could be located in the cytoplasmic matrix, and it therefore appeared that complement action was required before antibody could pass directly through the cell membrane. This finding was consistent with previous observations that the plasma membrane of an antibody-complement treated cell becomes permeable to large molecules. In broken cell preparations incubated with ferroglobulin, antibody combined with amorphous material and with structures derived from cell membranes and from smooth membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. The data favor the concept that antigens contained within the membranous structures are most important in the formation of cytotoxic antibodies. The reported experiments support the view that cytotoxic antibodies fix primarily to surface antigens of the cell membrane. The subsequent action of complement establishes the permeability defect that induces the osmotic lysis of the cell and permits antibody to pass into the cell where it may act in a similar fashion on intracellular organelles.

The ultrastructure of ameloblasts during matrix formation and the maturation of enamel

Ameloblasts from different regions of upper incisors of rats were examined with the electron microscope. During matrix formation, the cells resemble secretory cells. They are extremely long, tightly packed, and show considerable polarity. Nuclei are at the basal end of the cell. Mitochondria are proximal and the Golgi apparatus distal to the nucleus. Ergastoplasm is found in all levels but mainly in the distal end. A terminal bar apparatus separates the distal end of the cell from Tomes's process. Next to this is soft enamel. The next incisal region is a transitional zone in which the ameloblasts separate easily from the enamel. Endoplasmic reticulum is dilated and very obviously in communication with the perinuclear space. Mitochondria are present not only proximal, but also distal, to the nucleus. The next incisal zone consists of cells related to the maturation of enamel. They no longer resemble secretory cells, but now have more characteristics of transporting cells. Processes from the distal end of the cell are present with mitochondria closely applied to the base of the processes. A considerable amount of intercellular space exists with microvilli projecting into the space. Iron granules appear in these cells, and the ergastoplasmic cisternae are dilated. In the incisal end of this zone, the iron granules form aggregates. The iron finally leaves the cells to enter the enamel. Free RNP particles and fibrils become more evident after the iron leaves the cells. In the most incisal region, the ameloblasts are further reduced in height. Distal processes are no longer present and fibrils are more conspicuous.

IMMUNO-ELECTRON MICROSCOPE ANALYSIS OF THE SURFACE LAYERS OF THE UNFERTILISED SEA URCHIN EGG. I. EFFECTS OF THE ANTISERA ON THE CELL ULTRASTRUCTURE

The response of unfertilised Paracentrotus lividus eggs to γ-globulin fractions of antisera against isolated homologous jelly coat substance or homologous homogenates of jellyless eggs has been studied at the ultrastructural level. The antijelly γ-globulin caused precipitation of the jelly layer, the density of precipitation varying between different eggs and being proportional to the γ-globulin concentration. Agglutination of the jelly substance of adjacent eggs, which is species specific, occurred frequently with higher γ-globulin concentrations. Antiegg γ-globulins (from antiserum against total homogenates of jelly-free eggs or the heat-stable fraction thereof) did not produce these effects. Instead, these γ-globulins caused various structural alterations mostly representing stages in parthenogenetic activation. This species-specific activation was induced by the reaction of antibodies with some heat-stable egg antigens different from those involved in jelly precipitation. Surface alterations included the formation of small papillae, membrane blisters, hyaline layer, and activation membrane, the release of material from the cell surface, and the breakdown of cortical granules. These alterations were dependent on both γ-globulin concentration and the variable reactivity among different females. Aster formation, found intracellularly, verified that the surface responses represented real parthenogenetic activation and were not the result of immune lysis. No such alterations appeared in the controls.

Specificity of H-2 antigens expressed on mouse blastocysts

A highly sensitive cytotoxicity assay was used to detect H-2 antigens on mouse blastocyst stage embryos of the b, a, k, and d haplotypes. The assay was based on the principle that live embryos incorporate 3H-thymidine into DNA whereas embryos killed with antiserum and complement do not. The use of specific alloantisera showed that blastocysts of different haplotypes express different H-2 antigens. Thus, positive evidence was obtained for the expression of Kd and Dk molecules and negative evidence for the expression of Db, Kk, and Dd molecules. Evidence was also obtained that blastocysts express different H-2 antigens than those found on adult lymphocytes. Unexpected cross-reactions were found when some of the alloantisera were tested on blastocysts of different haplotypes. It is proposed that the aberrant expression of H-2 antigens on embryos might facilitate their escape from surveillance by the maternal immune system.

Characterization of membrane permeability alterations induced in Vero cells by Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin

Alterations in plasma membrane permeability induced by Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin were studied using Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells which were radioactively labeled with four markers of different molecular size. The markers were alpha-amino[14C]isobutyric acid (Mr 103), 3H-labeled nucleotide (Mr approx. 300), 51Cr label (Mr approx. 3000) and [3H]RNA (Mr>25000). Over a 2h period, enterotoxin caused significant release of aminoisobutyric acid, nucleotides and 51Cr label but not RNA. The effects of enterotoxin on label release were dose- and time-dependent. The rate of release of markers was dependent upon their size. Permeability alterations could be detected within 15 min with a high dose of enterotoxin. Gel chromatography of released material was used to determine that markers of Mr 3000 but not 25000 leaked from permeabilized cells. It was concluded that enterotoxin is producing functional 'holes' of limited size in the membrane. Permeability changes due to enterotoxin treatment differed between confluent and nonconfluent (growing) cells. We propose that the primary action of the enterotoxin is to interact with the plasma membrane and produce functional 'holes' of defined size. The resultant alterations in membrane permeability cause the loss of essential cellular substances which inhibits processes such as macromolecular synthesis and eventually leads to cell deterioration and death.

Determination of toxin-induced leakage of different-size nucleotides through the plasma membrane of human diploid fibroblasts

Human diploid lung fibroblasts were treated with cytolytic bacterial toxins and the nature of the membrane damage was investigated. [3H] uridine was used for differential labeling of cytoplasmic components of small or large molecular size. Two principal size categories were achieved by labeling the fibroblasts in either early growth phase or stationary phase, a high-molecular weight ribonucleic acid label and a low-molecular-weight nucleotide label. The size of the labeled molecules was determined by perchloric acid precipitation and gel chromatography. Leakage of labeled molecules of different size indicated the size of the "functional pores" in the plasma membrane caused by the test substance. The nonionic detergent Triton X-100 produced large functional pores in the fibroblast membrane as evidenced by rapid leakage of both large and small labeled molecules. Theta-toxin from Clostridium perfringens and the polyene antibiotic filipin both gave rise to considerably small functional pores in the plasma membrane. Although small molecules easily passed the treated membrane, large molecules could not escape from the cells even after prolonged treatment with these substances or by increasing their concentration. By the contrast, the leakage profiles obtained with melittin from bee venom or with delta-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus in each case suggested the formation initially of pores of intermediate size that increased upon prolonged incubation or when higher concentrations were used.

The cytotoxic principle of the phytoflagellate Prymnesium parvum

The cytotoxic events leading to lysis induced in Ehrlich ascites tumor (E.A.) cells by Prymnesium parvum cell extracts were followed microscopically and measured quantitatively as changes in E.A. cell volume, uptake of trypan blue, and release of macromolecular constituents from the cells. Cell swelling was the most immediate response to P. parvum cytotoxin, while cell death and lysis were later events distinguished by a decline in cell volume, uptake of dye, and appearance of cellular macromolecules free in the incubation medium. The pH and temperature were shown to affect the outcome of the lytic sequence. At either low pH or temperature, cells swelled but did not lyse until the pH or temperature was raised. On the other hand, cells swollen at the higher pH or temperature could be protected from lysis by lowering either the pH or the temperature.

The effects of antibodies on cells. 3. Studies on the interaction of rat liver mitochondria and lysosomes with antibody and complement

Complement-fixing and precipitating antibodies to mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions of rat liver were induced in rabbits. The incubation of these subcellular fractions with ferritin-labelled antibody revealed localization of the antibody on mitochondria and lysosomes, but no specific morphological effect of antibody and complement. Incubation of the cell fractions with antibody and complement did not impair the efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation or affect the latency and sedimentation characteristics of lysosomal acid phosphatase. The results are discussed in relation to the action of antibody and complement on cells and to possible mechanisms of tissue damage in auto-immunity.