Sm. Laster et Jm. Mackenzie, BLEB FORMATION AND F-ACTIN DISTRIBUTION DURING MITOSIS AND TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-INDUCED APOPTOSIS, Microscopy research and technique, 34(3), 1996, pp. 272-280
The murine cell line C3HA has been used extensively in studies of the
cytopathology that accompanies TNF-induced cytolysis. This cell line u
ndergoes an apoptic form of cell death characterized by plasma membran
e blebbing and cytoplasmic boiling. Since plasma membrane blebs also a
ppear on C3HA cells during mitosis, in this report we have compared th
ese blebs with those that appear during apoptosis to determine whether
they represent related structures. Our results reveal several differe
nces. During mitosis, the blebs that appear are smaller and more heter
ogeneous in size than are those that appear during apoptosis. In addit
ion, during mitosis bleb formation is preceded by the appearance of mi
crovilli on the cell surface. No microvilli are observed during apopto
sis. The staining pattern with rhodamine phalloidin also differed betw
een mitotic and apoptic blebs, indicating a difference in their conten
t of f-actin. The blebs that form during mitosis stained in a bright,
uniform manner, suggesting an association with f-actin. In contrast, a
poptic blebs were stained only at their base, the bleb itself being de
void of f-actin-associated staining. This difference may help explain
why mitotic blebs are reintegrated into the cell surface, while the bl
ebs that form during apoptosis are not. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.