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Blebbing, free Ca2+ and mitochondrial membrane potential preceding cell death in hepatocytes

Nature volume 325, pages 78–81 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Cell surface 'blebbing' is an early consequence of hypoxic and toxic injury to cells1–5. A rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ has been suggested as the stimulus for bleb formation3–5 and the final common pathway to irreversible cell injury6–9. Here, using digitized low-light video microscopy, we examine blebbing, cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential and loss of cell viability in individual cultured hepatocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that after 'chemical hypoxia' with cyanide and iodoacetate, cytosolic free Ca2+ does not change during bleb formation or before loss of cellular viability. Cell death was precipitated by a sudden breakdown of the plasma membrane permeability barrier, possibly caused by rupture of a cell surface bleb.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratories for Cell Biology, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA

    John J. Lemasters, James DiGuiseppi, Anna-Liisa Nieminen & Brian Herman

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  1. John J. Lemasters
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  2. James DiGuiseppi
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  3. Anna-Liisa Nieminen
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  4. Brian Herman
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Lemasters, J., DiGuiseppi, J., Nieminen, AL. et al. Blebbing, free Ca2+ and mitochondrial membrane potential preceding cell death in hepatocytes . Nature 325, 78–81 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/325078a0

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