Endocytic Processing Research Articles

Phagosomal proteins of Dictyostelium discoideum.

In recognizing food particles. Dictyostelium cell-surface molecules initiate cytoskeletal rearrangements that result in phagosome formation. After feeding D. discoideum cells latex beads, early phagosomes were isolated on sucrose step gradients. Protein analyses of these vesicles showed that they contained glycoproteins and surface-labeled species corresponding to integral plasma membrane proteins. Cytoskeletal proteins also were associated with phagosomes, including myosin II, actin and a 30 kDa-actin bundling protein. As seen by the acridine orange fluorescence of vesicles containing bacteria, phagosomes were acidified rapidly by a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase that was detected by immunoblotting. Except for the loss of cytoskeletal proteins, few other changes over time were noted in the protein profiles of phagosomes, suggesting that phagosome maturation was incomplete. The indigestibility of the beads possibly inhibited further endocytic processing, which has been observed by others. Since nascent phagosomes contained molecules of both the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane, they will be useful in studies aimed at identifying specific protein associations occurring between membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton during phagocytosis.

Structural Requirements for Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Invariant Chain Trafficking in Polarized Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells

The invariant chain (Ii) targets major histocompatibility complex class II molecules to an endocytic processing compartment where they encounter antigenic peptides. Analysis of Ii-transferrin receptor chimeras expressed in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells shows that the Ii cytoplasmic tail contains a dihydrophobic basolateral sorting signal, Met16-Leu17, which is recognized in both the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways. Pro15-Met16-Leu17 has previously been identified as one of two dihydrophobic Ii internalization signals active in non-polarized cells. Pro15 is also required for endocytosis in MDCK cells but not for basolateral sorting, indicating that the internalization signal recognized at the plasma membrane is distinct from the sorting signal recognized by basolateral sorting machinery. Another dihydrophobic sequence, Leu7-Ile8, is required for rapid internalization of the chimeric receptors in MDCK cells but not for basolateral sorting, providing further evidence that the structural requirements for basolateral sorting and internalization differ. Deletion analysis suggests that basolateral sorting of newly synthesized Ii-TR chimeras is also mediated by the membrane-proximal region of the Ii cytoplasmic tail. However, this region does not promote polarized basolateral recycling, indicating that the structural requirements for polarized sorting in the biosynthetic and endocytic pathways are not identical.

Presentation of a T cell receptor antagonist peptide by immunoglobulins ablates activation of T cells by a synthetic peptide or proteins requiring endocytic processing.

T cell receptor (TCR) antagonism is being considered for inactivation of aggressive T cells and reversal of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. TCR antagonist peptides silence aggressive T cells and reverse experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced with free peptides. However, it is not clear whether free antagonist peptides could reverse natural disease where the antigen is presumably available for endocytic processing and peptides gain access to newly synthesized class II MHC molecules. Using an efficient endocytic presentation system, we demonstrate that a proteolipid protein (PLP) TCR antagonist peptide (PLP-LR) presented on an Ig molecule (Ig-PLP-LR) abrogates the activation of T cells stimulated with free encephalitogenic PLP peptide (PLP1), native PLP, or an Ig containing PLP1 peptide (Ig-PLP1). Free PLP-LR abolishes T cell activation when the stimulator is free PLP1 peptide, but has no measurable effect when the stimulator is the native PLP or Ig-PLP1. In vivo, Ig-PLP1 induces a T cell response to PLP1 peptide. However, when coadministered with Ig-PLP-LR, the response to PLP1 peptide is markedly reduced whereas the response to PLP-LR is normal. Free PLP-LR coadministered with Ig-PLP1 has no effect on the T cell response to PLP1. These findings indicate that endocytic presentation of an antagonist peptide by Ig outcompete both external and endocytic agonist peptides whereas free antagonist hinders external but not endocytic agonist peptide. Direct contact with antagonist ligand and/or trans-regulation by PLP-LR-specific T cells may be the operative mechanism for Ig-PLP-LR-mediated downregulation of PLP1-specific T cells in vivo. Efficient endocytic presentation of antagonist peptides, which is the fundamental event for either mechanism, may be critical for reversal of spontaneous T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases where incessant endocytic antigen processing could be responsible for T cell aggressivity.

Phorbol Esters Affect Multiple Steps in β-Amyloid Precursor Protein Trafficking and Amyloid β-Protein Production

Amyloid beta-protein (A beta), the major constituent of amyloid deposits found in Alzheimer's disease, is derived from the beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta PP). Constitutive proteolysis by alpha-secretase and secretion of soluble beta PP (beta PPs) are stimulated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation, whereas A beta production and release are inhibited. The cellular mechanism that underlies the PKC-mediated down-regulation of A beta generation is unclear. Because endocytic processing of beta PP from the cell surface is a major pathway of A beta production, the effect of PKC activation by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on endocytic trafficking of beta PP was examined. In this study, trafficking of beta PP was assayed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) cells stably transfected with full-length beta PP751. Treatment with PDBu resulted in a rapid and striking reduction of up to 80% in the amount of beta PP at the cell surface. This loss of cell-surface molecules could not be accounted for by changes in the trafficking of cell-surface beta PP molecules, as determined by a radiolabeled antibody assay. Rather, the decrease in beta PP was due primarily to a reduction in the sorting of beta PP to the cell surface. This alteration was correlated with accelerated intracellular alpha-secretase-mediated beta PP cleavage and accelerated beta PP trafficking in the exocytic pathway. The data suggest that the displacement of beta PP away from the cell surface after phorbol ester treatment reduces the substrate available for endocytic processing and in turn, results in the inhibition of A beta production.

Degradation of Amyloid β-Protein by a Metalloprotease Secreted by Microglia and Other Neural and Non-neural Cells

Amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is the major component of neuritic (amyloid) plaques in Alzheimer's disease, and its deposition is an early and constant event in the complex pathogenetic cascade of the disease. Although many studies have focused on the biosynthetic processing of the beta-amyloid precursor protein and on the production and polymerization of Abeta, understanding the degradation and clearance of Abeta has received very little attention. By incubating the conditioned medium of metabolically labeled Abeta-secreting cells with media of various cultured cell lines, we observed a time-dependent decrease in the amount of Abeta in the mixed media. The factor principally responsible for this decrease was a secreted metalloprotease released by both neural and non-neural cells. Among the cells examined, the microglial cell line, BV-2, produced the most Abeta-degrading activity. The protease was completely blocked by the metalloprotease inhibitor, 1,10-phenanthroline, and partially inhibited by EDTA, whereas inhibitors of other protease classes produced little or no inhibition. Substrate analysis suggests that the enzyme was a non-matrix metalloprotease. The protease cleaved both Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 peptides secreted by beta-amyloid precursor protein-transfected cells but failed to degrade low molecular weight oligomers of Abeta that form in the culture medium. Lipopolysaccharide, a stimulator of macrophages/microglia, activated BV-2 cells to increase their Abeta-degrading metalloprotease activity. We conclude that secreted Abeta1-40 and Abeta1-42 peptides are constitutively degraded by a metalloprotease released by microglia and other neural cells, providing a potential mechanism for the clearance of Abeta in brain tissue.

Early endosomes and a late endocytic compartment generate different peptide-class II MHC complexes via distinct processing mechanisms.

Class II MHC Ag-processing compartments and mechanisms were compared for four antigenic epitopes from hen egg lysozyme (HEL) and RNase. T cell assays on subcellular fractions of Ag-pulsed macrophages detected the initial appearance of HEL-(48-61):I-Ak, HEL-(34-45):I-Ak, and RNase-(90-105):I-Ek complexes in a high density late endocytic compartment. In contrast, RNase-(42-56):I-Ak complexes never appeared in high density compartments, but were rapidly generated in low density endosomes. This early endosomal processing mechanism was 1) chloroquine inhibitable; 2) less sensitive than the late endocytic mechanism to 20 degrees C inhibition; 3) partially resistant to depletion of nascent class II MHC molecules with brefeldin A, suggesting some use of recycled class II MHC molecules, whereas the late endocytic processing mechanism was blocked by brefeldin A; and 4) involved in the processing of a DM-independent complex (RNase-(42-56):I-Ak). Thus, distinct processing compartments and mechanisms are identified for different epitopes even within a single Ag.

Related leucine-based cytoplasmic targeting signals in invariant chain and major histocompatibility complex class II molecules control endocytic presentation of distinct determinants in a single protein.

Leucine-based signals in the cytoplasmic tail of invariant chain (Ii) control targeting of newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex class II molecules to the endocytic pathway for acquisition of antigenic peptides. Some protein determinants, however, do not require Ii for effective class II presentation, although endocytic processing is still necessary. Here we demonstrate that a dileucine-based signal in the cytoplasmic tail of the class II beta chain is critical for this Ii-independent presentation. Elimination or mutation of this signal reduces the rate of re-entry of mature surface class II molecules into the endocytic pathway. Antigen presentation controlled by this signal does not require newly synthesized class II molecules and appears to involve determinants requiring only limited proteolysis for exposure, whereas the opposite is true for li-dependent determinants. This demonstrates that related leucine-based trafficking signals in li and class II control the functional presentation of protein determinants with distinct processing requirements, suggesting that the peptide binding sites of newly synthesized versus mature class II molecules are made available for antigen binding in distinct endocytic compartments under the control of these homologous cytoplasmic signals. This permits capture of protein fragments produced optimally under distinct conditions of pH and proteolytic activity.

Endocytosis and Ca2+ are required for endotoxin-stimulated TNF-alpha release by rat Kupffer cells.

Endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] is a cell wall polymer derived from Gram-negative bacteria that stimulates macrophages to produce a variety of inflammatory mediators. In these studies, we examined LPS-stimulated formation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by cultured rat Kupffer cells. Cytochalasin B and methylpalmitate, blockers of endocytosis, decreased LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release by > 92%. Bafilomycin A, monensin, and chloroquine, which prevent endosomal acidification, also blocked LPS-stimulated release of TNF-alpha by > 90%. Cytochalasin B and bafilomycin A decreased TNF-alpha mRNA levels by > 90% after LPS stimulation. Consistent with the requirement for LPS uptake and processing was the observation that Kupffer cells required 30 min of contact with LPS for maximal TNF-alpha release. LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release was unaltered by incubation in Ca(2+)-free ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid medium, and A-23187, a Ca2+ ionophore, failed to stimulate TNF-alpha release in the absence of LPS. However, nisoldipine, a Ca2+ channel blocker, suppressed LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release in cells cultured both in Ca(2+)-containing and Ca(2+)-free media. Although thapsigargin did not block TNF-alpha release, this depleter of intracellular Ca2+ stores blocked LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis in Ca(2+)-free medium and decreased TNF-alpha mRNA levels by 80%. Furthermore, LPS induced a late rise in intracellular free Ca2+ demonstrated by video microscopy of fura 2-loaded Kupffer cells. De novo protein and RNA synthesis were required, since cycloheximide and actinomycin D also inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release. We compared free TNF-alpha secreted into culture supernatants with cell-associated TNF-alpha and found that cytochalasin B, bafilomycin A, chloroquine, monensin, and nisoldipine did not increase bound, cell-associated TNF-alpha. We conclude that endocytosis and endocytic processing may be necessary for LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release from Kupffer cells. Ca2+ release, regulated by dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels, also appears to be necessary for LPS-induced signaling and may arise from intracellular stores associated with the endosome/lysosome compartment.

Processing of exogenous heat-aggregated (denatured) and particulate (native) hepatitis B surface antigen for class I-restricted epitope presentation.

Many cell types efficiently present an epitope of the hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) to murine class I-restricted CTL following an in vitro pulse with native 22-nm HBsAg particles. Processing of exogenous HBsAg particles required its cytochalasin B-insensitive uptake and acid proteolysis in an endocytic compartment, was insensitive to brefeldin A and cycloheximide, and did not involve regurgitation of antigenic peptides. In contrast, after an in vitro pulse of cells with exogenous, heat-denatured 1-micron HBsAg aggregates, only macrophages (but not other cell types tested) presented the Ld-restricted HBsAg epitope efficiently to CTL. Processing of exogenous HBsAg aggregates required its cytochalasin B-sensitive uptake, was insensitive to brefeldin A, and involved regurgitation of antigenic peptides. Processing of the two different, exogenous HBsAg preparations for class I-restricted epitope presentation thus involved alternative pathways: an "endocytic pathway" for native 22-nm particles, and a "phagocytic pathway" for denatured 1-microns aggregates. Both HBsAg preparations displayed different immunogenicity for class I-restricted CTL in vivo when delivered without adjuvants: native HBsAg particles were of high immunogenicity, and denatured HBsAg aggregates were of low immunogenicity. Class I-restricted CTL are thus primed in vivo after "endocytic processing" of native HBsAg particles as well as "phagocytic processing" of denatured HBsAg aggregates.

Invasion of Toxoplasma gondii occurs by active penetration of the host cell.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects a wide variety of vertebrate cells including macrophages. We have used a combination of video microscopy and fluorescence localization to examine the entry of Toxoplasma into macrophages and nonphagocytic host cells. Toxoplasma actively invaded host cells without inducing host cell membrane ruffling, actin microfilament reorganization, or tyrosine phosphorylation of host proteins. Invasion occurred rapidly and within 25-40 seconds the parasite penetrated into a tight-fitting vacuole formed by invagination of the plasma membrane. In contrast, during phagocytosis of Toxoplasma, extensive membrane ruffling captured the parasite in a loose-fitting phagosome that formed over a period of 2-4 minutes. Phagocytosis involved both reorganization of the host cytoskeleton and tyrosine phosphorylation of host proteins. In some cases, parasites that were first internalized by phagocytosis, were able to escape from the phagosome by a process analogous to invasion. These studies reveal that active penetration of the host cell by Toxoplasma is fundamentally different from phagocytosis or induced endocytic uptake. The novel ability to penetrate the host cell likely contributes to the capability of Toxoplasma-containing vacuoles to avoid endocytic processing.

Maturation of early endosomes and vesicular traffic to lysosomes in relation to membrane recycling

The controversy whether endocytic processing occurs by organellar maturation or by vesicular traffic has not been resolved. It is also not clear whether maturation continues to the stage of lysosomes, to what extent it involves a decrease in organellar fusogenicity, and how it relates to membrane recycling. Maturation and vesicular traffic imply distinct kinetics for the intermingling of endocytic markers after sequential endocytic uptake. We have studied the kinetics of intermingling of fluid-phase markers (fluorescein-labelled dextran and horseradish peroxidase) and cell surface-derived membrane (labelled by galactosylation) in organelles at early and late stages of the endocytic pathway in macrophage-like P388D1 cells. Intermingling declined by sigmoid kinetics, indicating that endosomes matured within about 3 minutes to become non-fusogenic towards early endosomes. During maturation about 60% of internalized membrane was recycled with T1/2 approximately 2 minutes. Whereas matured endosomes were non-fusogenic towards early endosomes and towards each other, a second phase of intermingling was observed upon delivery to lysosomes. This intermingling occurred by a first-order process (T1/2 approximately 4 minutes), concurrent with recycling of the remaining 40% of internalized membrane marker. These kinetic observations suggest a model for endocytic processing which reconciles maturation of early endosomes with the known function of carrier vesicles: Endocytic carrier vesicles do not bud off from permanent early endosomes as proposed for vesicular traffic, but are derived, together with recycling vesicles, from the maturation of early endosomes which are consumed by this process; these carrier vesicles subsequently mediate delivery to lysosomes by vesicular traffic during which the remaining surface-derived membrane is recycled.

Sorting signals in the MHC class II invariant chain cytoplasmic tail and transmembrane region determine trafficking to an endocytic processing compartment.

Targeting of MHC class II molecules to the endocytic compartment where they encounter processed antigen is determined by the invariant chain (Ii). By analysis of Ii-transferrin receptor (TR) chimera trafficking, we have identified sorting signals in the Ii cytoplasmic tail and transmembrane region that mediate this process. Two non-tyrosine-based sorting signals in the Ii cytoplasmic tail were identified that mediate localization to plasma membrane clathrin-coated pits and promote rapid endocytosis. Leu7 and Ile8 were required for the activity of the signal most distal to the cell membrane whereas Pro15 Met16 Leu17 were important for the membrane-proximal signal. The same or overlapping non-tyrosine-based sorting signals are essential for delivery of Ii-TR chimeras, either by an intracellular route or via the plasma membrane, to an endocytic compartment where they are rapidly degraded. The Ii transmembrane region is also required for efficient delivery to this endocytic processing compartment and contains a signal distinct from the Ii cytoplasmic tail. More than 80% of the Ii-TR chimera containing the Ii cytoplasmic tail and transmembrane region is delivered directly to the endocytic pathway by an intracellular route, implying that the Ii sorting signals are efficiently recognized by sorting machinery located in the trans-Golgi.

Growth factor-induced binding of dynamin to signal transduction proteins involves sorting to distinct and separate proline-rich dynamin sequences.

Dynamin, a 100 kDa GTPase, is critical for endocytosis, synaptic transmission and neurogenesis. Endocytosis accompanies receptor processing and plays an essential role in attenuating receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction. Dynamin has been demonstrated to be involved in the endocytic processing at the cell surface and may play a general role in coupling receptor activation to endocytosis. Src homology (SH) domain dependent protein-protein interactions are important to tyrosine kinase receptor signal transduction. The C-terminus of dynamin contains two clusters of SH3 domain binding proline motifs; these motifs may interact with known SH3 domain proteins during tyrosine kinase receptor activation. We demonstrate here that SH3 domain-containing signal transduction proteins, such as phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), do indeed bind to dynamin in a growth factor inducible manner. The induction of PLC gamma-1 binding to dynamin occurs within minutes of the addition of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) to cells. Binding of these signal transduction proteins to dynamin involves specific sorting to individual proline motif clusters and appears to be responsible for co-immunoprecipitation of tyrosine phosphorylated PDGF receptors with dynamin following PDGF stimulation of mammalian cells. The binding of dynamin to SH3 domain-containing proteins may therefore be important for formation of the protein complex required for the endocytic processing of activated tyrosine kinase receptors.

Beta-very low density lipoprotein is sequestered in surface-connected tubules in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

beta-very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is a large lipoprotein with multiple apoprotein E (apoE) molecules that bind to the LDL receptors on mouse macrophages. Even though they bind to the same receptor, the endocytic processing of beta-VLDL differs from low density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is rapidly delivered to perinuclear lysosomes and degraded, but much of the beta-VLDL is retained in peripheral compartments for several minutes. We have investigated the properties of these peripheral compartments. Measurement of the pH was made using FITC-phosphatidylethanolamine incorporated into the beta-VLDL, and we found that the peripheral compartments were near neutral in pH. These peripheral, beta-VLDL containing compartments were poorly accessible to antibodies, but a low molecular weight fluorescence quencher (trypan blue) entered the compartments within a few seconds. Intermediate voltage EM of cells labeled with colloidal-gold-beta-VLDL revealed that the peripheral compartments are tubular, surface-connected invaginations. Kinetic studies with fluorescent beta-VLDL showed that the compartments become fully sealed with a half-time of 6 min, and the beta-VLDL is then delivered rapidly to perinuclear lysosomes. By monitoring fluorescence energy transfer between lipid analogs incorporated into the beta-VLDL, some processing of the lipoprotein in the peripheral tubular compartments is demonstrated. The novel mode of uptake of beta-VLDL may account for the high cholesterol ester accumulation induced by this lipoprotein.

Genesis of host IgE competence: perinatal IgE tolerance induced by IgE processed and presented by IgE Fc receptor (CD23)-bearing B cells.

A murine model for studying life-long IgE tolerance was previously developed in this laboratory by perinatal IgE injection into neonates. Herein, we demonstrated that normal and immortal CD23+ B cell lines presented processed IgE via CD23-mediated endocytic pathway and triggered perinatal IgE tolerance. The observations were as followed: (a) CD23 on normal B cells or B cell hybridomas mediated IgE-dependent perinatal IgE tolerance and total IgE deficiency; and lack of either antigen-specific IgE or total IgE did not correlate with elevated levels of autologous anti-IgE in individual mice; (b) IgE tolerance-inducing capacity of CD23+ B cell hybridomas was augmented by treatment with antigen-IgE complexes or interleukin 4, and significantly inhibited by anti-CD23 prior to IgE pulsing; (c) antigen-IgE complexes were endocytosed and degraded in acid hydrolases-containing vesicles; and IgE tolerance was abrogated by treating IgE-pulsed 17A11 at 4 degrees C or 20 degrees C followed immediately by fixation, and by treating IgE-pulsed 17A11 with metabolic inhibitors that elevated intracellular pH of the endocytic vesicles. In conclusion, this study suggested that one pivotal step of genetic control of IgE responses may be exercised at the early developmental stage of T cells of the IgE lineage, and that CD23 may facilitate capture of endogenously secreted IgE, and mediate endocytic processing and presentation of self IgE epitope(s), and thus contribute to the genesis of host IgE competence.

Metabolic requirements for macrophage presentation of Listeria monocytogenes to immune CD8 cells.

Though ingested Ag are readily degraded into peptides within endocytic vesicles, APC usually cannot present these fragments to CD8 cells. Despite this generalization, some exceptions have been noted. For example, murine macrophage targets readily process heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes (HKLM) into a form recognizable by immune CD8 CTL. Using an assay of Listeria-specific, CD8-mediated cytotoxicity to quantitate Ag presentation by C57Bl/6 macrophage targets, we have examined some of the cellular requirements for this form of Ag processing. To assess whether the physical form of the Ag is an important determinant of processing, we compared the ability of macrophages to present intact HKLM, fractionated L. monocytogenes (LM) membranes, and octyl-beta-d-thioglucopyranoside-solubilized extracts of LM membranes. Macrophages presented each Ag form in a similar manner indicating that processing is not critically dependent on the presence of intact bacteria or even on the introduction of Ag in a particulate form. To gain insight into the metabolic requirements for Ag processing, we examined the effects of several inhibitors. As might be expected, listerial Ag presentation was blocked by brefeldin, a known inhibitor of the endogenous pathway of Ag processing. LM Ag presentation, however, was also blocked by inhibitors of endosomal acidification (chloroquine, ammonium chloride, and monensin) and by the acid protease inhibitor pepstatin A, suggesting that endocytic processing may play an essential role in CD8 recognition of this Ag. To formally establish that this pattern of exogenous Ag processing requires the presence of a class I MHC product, we demonstrated that beta-2 microglobulin-deficient macrophages, which lack class I MHC product expression, cannot present HKLM to CD8 cells. However, we could not block Ag presentation by incubating macrophages with monoclonal anti-H-2K or H-2D antibodies, suggesting that LM Ag presentation may be mediated by some other class I MHC product. Additional characterization of this pathway of Ag presentation is warranted in view of its possible role in initiating CD8-mediated immunity against microbial Ag.

Toxoplasma modifies macrophage phagosomes by secretion of a vesicular network rich in surface proteins.

Modification of macrophage phagosomes begins shortly after formation as Toxoplasma cells secrete membranous vesicles that form a reticulate network within the vacuole. The Toxoplasma-modified compartments then resist normal endocytic processing and digestion. We have used the pronounced Ca++-dependent stability of the intraphagosomal membrane (IPM) network to purify and characterize the structural proteins of this assembly. In addition to the structural matrix, Toxoplasma secretes a discrete set of soluble proteins, including a newly described 22-kD calcium-binding protein. The IPM network adheres to intact Toxoplasma cells after host cell lysis in the presence of 1 mM Ca++; however, the network readily disperses in calcium-free buffer and was purified as vesicles that sedimented at 100,000 g. Purified IPM vesicles were specifically recognized by immune sera from mice with chronic Toxoplasma infection and consisted primarily of a 30-kD protein when analyzed by SDS PAGE. IPM network proteins share a major antigenic component located on the surface of extracellular Toxoplasma cells as shown by immunoperoxidase electron microscopy using a polyclonal antibody prepared against the IPM vesicles. Moreover, in Toxoplasma-infected macrophages, anti-IMP antibody confirmed that the extensive IPM array contains proteins also found on the Toxoplasma cell surface. Our results indicate the IMP network represents a unique structural modification of the phagosome comprised in part of Toxoplasma surface proteins.

Endocytosis by endothelial phagocytes: uptake of bovine serum albumin—gold conjugates in bone marrow

The endocytic function of the endothelial cells of the venous sinuses ("sinusoids") in rat bone marrow was investigated. Marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells (MSEC) were exposed to pulse injections of bovine serum albumin-gold (BSA-Au) conjugates in vivo and examined after timed intervals by electron microscopy. BSA-Au particles were rapidly taken up by MSEC. Within 1 min, BSA-Au was internalized by means of coated pits and vesicles (exclusively) and processed through pleomorphic endosomes to dense bodies known to be secondary lysosomes. In this processing, no involvement of the Golgi apparatus was observed. The continuous association of BSA with gold throughout endocytic processing to lysosomes was verified by immunolabeling with anti-BSA antibody. Although the nature of the affinity mediating endocytosis of BSA-Au by MSEC, in particular the possibility of specific adsorption of BSA and receptor involvement, remains to be established, it is suggested that marrow sinusoidal endothelial cells internalize the albumin-coated particles and process them through to lysosomal structures for purposes of degrading the albumin component.