title: Compound exocytosis and cumulative fusion in eosinophils.
abstract: Focal release of cytotoxic proteins by eosinophils onto the target surface plays an important role in parasite killing. Degranulation was stimulated by intracellular application of calcium and guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate via the recording patch pipette or via streptolysin-O permeabilization. Exocytotic fusion was monitored by capacitance measurements, whereas release of fluorescent weak bases, which accumulate selectively within eosinophil granules, was followed by fluorescence imaging. Several distinct types of granule fusion events were directly observed by simultaneous capacitance and fluorescence measurements. These are fusion of a single granule with the plasma membrane, intracellular granule-granule fusion, fusion of large compounds of pre-fused granules with the plasma membrane (compound exocytosis), and sequential fusion of granules to granules previously fused to the plasma membrane. Extensive granule-granule fusion was also observed by electron microscopy of permeabilized cells. All these fusion mechanisms contribute to focal release. The coexistence of distinct modes of exocytosis suggests that their regulation may modulate effector functions of eosinophils during helminth infection and allergic response.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hafez
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stolpe
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D025802:Electric Capacitance; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005089:Exocytosis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate)