title: Electron microscope study on a transmissible cytotoxic factor isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of neurological patients: analysis of its structure and of its effects on various types of cell cultures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous studies, the present group showed that a factor, present in the cerebrospinal fluid of seven neuro-patients, was capable of inducing cell damages on cell cultures of epithelial cells (Vero), glial cells (DG54-MG) and human primary lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity, once induced, could be transmitted to fresh cell cultures using crude preparations obtained from the cytotoxic cell cultures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present electron microscope study describes in detail the pathological changes occurring in the previously assayed cultured cell types, and for the first time in human fibroblasts, as a consequence of the treatment with crude cytotoxic preparation. It also demonstrates with reasonable certainty the absence of virus-like particles in both the treated cells and the partially purified cytotoxic fraction. Indeed high-resolution electron microscopy analysis shows that this fraction consists almost entirely of protein spheroids with a diameter of 8-12 nm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The possible significance of nanotubular aggregates, observed in particular in the glial and in the epithelial cells undergoing cytotoxic damage, is also discussed.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Guerra
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Ronchetti
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Beretti
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Bartoletti
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Pietrosemoli
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Gelormini
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Malagolini
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Muscatello
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Portolani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins