INDUCTION OF CELL-SURFACE BLEBBING BY INCREASED CELLULAR P-I CONCENTRATION

Cell surface blebbing is an early, reversible characteristic of anoxia described in several different cell types. Blebbing may lead to the f ormation of large terminal blebs, and ultimately cell death upon ruptu re of the membrane. In the present work, evidence is presented indicat ing that P-1 may be the immediate mediator of cell surface blebbing:(1 ) cell surface blebbing can be induced in normotoxic Ehrlich ascites t umour cells by a high extracellular concentration of P-1, leading to a n increase in the cellular P-1 concentration; (2) anoxia induces susta ined elevation of the cellular P-1 concentration and (3) cell surface blebbing during anoxia is reversed upon reoxygenation, and the disappe arance of blebbing depends on the decrease in cellular P-1 concentrati on. The rate of disappearance of blebbing may be enhanced by the simul taneous addition of adenine and inosine to the growth medium. This lea ds to a decrease in cellular P-1 concentration and to an almost comple te restoration of the cellular ATP concentration. It is suggested that P-1 is an important mediator of anoxia induced cell damage.