PROTEIN-KINASE-C ACTIVATION AND VACUOLATION IN HELA-CELLS INVADED BY MYCOPLASMA PENETRANS

The AIDS-associated Mycoplasma penetrans is capable of inducing its ow n uptake by non-phagocytic cells, This study investigated the invasion of HeLa cells and its consequences by confocal laser scanning microsc opy, Invasion was dependent on the duration of infection and temperatu re, diminished by inhibiting microfilament assembly with cytochalasin D and almost completely abolished by disorganising microtubules with v inblastine or taxol, After a short infection period (less than or equa l to 20 min), pronounced activation of protein kinase C was detected i n host cells, whereas prolonged infection resulted in intensive vacuol ation of the host cells and a pronounced increment in intracellular or ganic peroxide levels. A marked decrease in the extent of vacuolation was observed when peroxide accumulation was partially prevented by cc- tocopherol. The possibility that M, penetrans entry into HeLa cells in volves the activation of protein kinases and the recruitment of cytosk eleton components is discussed.