Phagocytic capacity of human muscle fibers.
Isolated dead muscle cell fragments (apoptotic bodies [ABs]) were investigated by electron microscopy in different stages of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis of ABs was carried out by neighboring muscle cells. The mechanism of internalization took place in both mature and immature muscle cells and consisted of the progressive engulfment of ABs within cytoplasmic vacuoles and craters. In addition, concentrated microfilaments formed a dense ring in the muscle cytoplasm adjacent to the engulfed ABs. The above combination of membrane evagination and phagocytic vacuole formation as well as the extensive microfilament organization at the site of AB engulfment were analogous to the cytoplasmic response seen in the tissue of mononuclear phagocytic cells.
Fidzianska
A
A
Department of Neurology, Medical Academy, Warsaw, Poland.
Goebel
H H
HH
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009336:Necrosis; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure