Evidence For Vesicular Transport Research Articles

A role for vesicles in human basophil secretion.

The evidence for vesicular transport as a mechanism for secretion by human basophils is reviewed. Initially, direct electron-microscopic inspection of experimentally produced and sequentially biopsied contact allergy skin lesions revealed a unique form of secretion termed piecemeal degranulation, characterized by the slow emptying of secretory granule contents (with retention of empty containers) in the absence of extrusion of entire granules. Budding of small vesicles to/from secretory granules was observed, and cytoplasmic vesicles were abundant. A generalized degranulation model was proposed to unify classical regulated secretion and this new form of secretion. Investigation of the mechanism(s) of secretion from human basophils required the development of numerous tools and resources. Chief among these were: (a) isolation and purification of circulating basophils; (b) identification of specific growth factors to increase the supply of this rare granulocyte; (c) understanding of secretogogue mechanisms and reliable analyses of secreted basophil products; and (d) development of ultrastructural preparations allowing imaging of small vesicles and quantifiable small electron-dense tags for granule materials in small vesicles. Applications of these tools to well-defined models of basophil secretion have established a role for vesicles as a mechanism for effecting secretion of histamine and the Charcot-Leyden crystal protein from activated human basophils.

Metabolically dependent blood-brain barrier breakdown in chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

We have studied chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE), a model of immune-mediated demyelination, using gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in vivo and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) markers, lanthanum nitrate and Gd nitrate, histologically. In regions of the spinal cord showing Gd enhancement, there was evidence for vesicular transport as a mechanism of BBB breakdown in CREAE, shown by an increased number of endothelial vesicles containing lanthanide (lanthanum or Gd, whichever had been perfused) and deposition of tracer in the perivascular space; tight interendothelial junctions remained intact. Prior perfusion with 2,4-dinitrophenol, a metabolic inhibitor, suppressed the appearance of endothelial vesicles containing lanthanide and tracer in the perivascular space. We conclude that an important contribution to BBB breakdown in CREAE is mediated by a metabolic change in the endothelial cells associated with increased vesicular transport.

Influence of colchicine on biliary secretion of taurocholate in the rat : Further evidence for vesicular transport of bile acids

Influence of colchicine on biliary secretion of taurocholate in the rat : Further evidence for vesicular transport of bile acids

The Ultrastructural Basis of Transcapillary Exchanges

A brief survey is given of current views correlating the ultrastructural and permeability characteristics of capillaries. Observations based on the use of peroxidase (mol wt 40,000), as an in vivo, and colloidal lanthanum, as an in vitro, ultrastructural tracer, are presented. In capillaries with "continuous" endothelium, the endothelial intercellular junctions are thought to be permeable to the tracers, and are regarded as maculae occludentes rather than zonulae occludentes, with a gap of about 40 A in width between the maculae. Some evidence for vesicular transport is also presented. It is inferred that the cell junctions are the morphological equivalent of the small-pore system, and the vesicles the equivalent of the large-pore system. Peroxidase does not apparently cross brain capillaries: the endothelial cell junctions are regarded as zonulae occludentes, and vesicles do not appear to transport across the endothelium. This is regarded as the morphological equivalent of the blood-brain barrier for relatively large molecules. The tracers appear to permeate the fenestrae of fenestrated capillaries, and the high permeability of these capillaries to large molecules is attributed to the fenestrae. Capillaries with discontinuous endothelium readily allow passage of the tracers through the intercellular gaps. A continuous basement membrane may act as a relatively coarse filter for large molecules. In general, the morphology of capillaries correlates well with physiological observations.