Tubular lysosome morphology and distribution within macrophages depend on the integrity of cytoplasmic microtubules

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.7.1921· OSTI ID:6060044

Swanson, J; Bushnell, A; Silverstein, S C

Pinocytosis of the fluorescent dye lucifer yellow labels elongated, membrane-bound tubular organelles in several cell types, including cultured human monocytes, thioglycolate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages, and the macrophage-like cell line J774.2. These tubular structures can be identified as lysosomes by acid phosphatase histochemistry and immunofluorescence localization of cathepsin L. The abundance of tubular lysosomes is markedly increased by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. When labeled by pinocytosis of microperoxidase and examined by electron microscopic histochemistry, the tubular lysosomes have an outside diameter of approx. = 75 nm and a length of several micrometers; they radiate from the cell's centrosphere in alignment with cytoplasmic microtubules and intermediate filaments. Incubation of phorbol myristate acetate-treated macrophages at 4/sup 0/C or in medium containing 5 ..mu..M colchicine or nocodazole at 37/sup 0/C leads to disassembly of microtubules and fragmentation of the tubular lysosomes. Return of the cultures to 37/sup 0/C or removal of nocodazole from the medium leads to reassembly of microtubules and the reappearance of tubular lysosomes within 10-20 min. The authors conclude that microtubules are essential for the maintenance of tubular lysosome morphology and that, in macrophages, a significant proportion of the lysosomal compartment is contained within these tubular structures.

• Research Organization: Columbia Univ., New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 6060044
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 84:7; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID PHOSPHATASE
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARCINOGENS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMISTRY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
CYTOCHEMISTRY
DYES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
ESTERS
FLUORESCENCE
HYDROLASES
LUMINESCENCE
LYSOSOMES
MACROPHAGES
MICROSCOPY
MICROTUBULES
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
PHAGOCYTES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
PHORBOL ESTERS
PHOSPHATASES
SOMATIC CELLS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY