Interactions between Borrelia burgdorferi and eukaryote cells: comparative ultrastructural aspects.

In the present study, mammalian VERO cells, human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPM) were coincubated with B31 Borrelia burgdorferi strain (Bb) and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the spirochete adheres to the mammalian cells mainly by the apical pole and less frequently by the lateral wall. In VERO cells and MPM cell penetration is accomplished especially by cytoplasmic membrane destruction, the spirochete appearing free in the cytoplasm, but also by phagocytosis.

Actin microfilaments dynamics in African green monkey renal cell line (Vero) during cultivation.

The structure of the actinic cytoskeleton in Vero cells (African green monkey kidney cells) during monolayer formation was studied. By immunofluorescence after phalloidin staining, actin was visualized in cells 15 min, 2, 4, 24 and 48 hours after cultivation. The evolution in time of cells revealed the progressive organization of actin molecules from diffuse granular forms to filamentous forms with characteristic patterns.

Effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) upon actin cytoskeleton in human pulmonary fibroblasts (ICP-23) infected by measles virus.

The evolution of the actin cytoskeleton after trypsinization and recultivation as well as the effect of the PGE2 modulator and that of the secondary messenger, the cyclic AMP upon the same cytoskeletal proteins in human pulmonary fibroblasts (ICP-23) were studied. The substances were administered simultaneously and after one hour of viral adsorption. Using epifluorescence for pointing out filamentous actin the modifications occurring in this cytoskeletal protein when contacting trypsin and the virus and when PGE2 and cAMP are administered in the experimental variants are observed.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) effect upon ICP-23 human pulmonary fibroblasts growth in culture and on measles virus multiplication in this cell type.

The influence of PGE2 in different concentrations (10(-4)M, 10(-6)M, 10(-8)M) and of 1 mM AMPc upon ICP-23 human pulmonary fibroblasts and also the influence of PGE2 upon measles virus multiplication in the same cell type were studied. PGE2 inhibited fibroblasts growth in all administered concentrations, depending on them. AMPc adding to human fibroblasts in culture progressively stimulated cells growth in the first 24 hours, produced a steady growth during 24-48-hour interval and slightly inhibited cellular divisions between 48 and 72 hours.