[Association of receptor-mediated endocytosis and autophagy with apoptosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between receptor-mediated endocytosis, autophagosome formation and apoptosis by observing the morphological changes of mouse peritoneal macrophages in the course of receptor-mediated endocytotic activities, autophagy and apoptosis.


METHODS
Mouse peritoneal macrophages were incubated with horseradish peroxidase-labeled concanavalin A (ConA-HRP), and morphological examinations were performed at different time points after the incubation.


RESULTS
After the incubation of the macrophages with ConA-HRP, ConA-HRP was observed to enter the vesicles by way of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Three kinds of endosomes were observed, namely vesicles, tubes and double-membrane sheets. The double-membrane sheets enveloped a portion of the cytoplasm and organelles, thus giving rise to vesicles, or the autophagosomes, which later fused with lysosome, followed by the apoptosis of the macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
Receptor-mediated endocytosis of ConA-HRP is associated with autophagy and apoptosis.
He
Cai-gu
CG
Department of Histology and Embryology, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. cghe288@hotmail.com
Piao
Ying-jie
YJ
Hu
Lian-mei
LM
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D004705:Endocytosis; D005260:Female; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface