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Cytochalasin B Fails to Inhibit Pinocytosis by Macrophages

Abstract

Although endocytosis is a phenomenon exhibited by a wide variety of cells, the mechanisms mediating this process are obscure. Recently cytochalasin B, one of a group of natural macrolide compounds1, has been shown to inhibit the phagocytosis of bacteria by polymorphonuclear leucocytes2–4 and macrophages (refs. 3 and 5, and S. J. Rivett, P. Davies, A. C. A., and A. D. H., manuscript in preparation) as well as the endocytosis of sucrose by Chang liver cells6. This compound also inhibits the intake of fluid by macrophages within vesicles large enough to be identified by phase contrast microscopy5. This process may be termed macropinocytosis, and corresponds to the formation of vesicles roughly 1 µm in diameter as visualized by electron microscopy. Wessels and his colleagues7 have suggested that the diverse biological properties of the cytochalasins may be due to interference with the function of contracile microfilaments, a group of actin-containing, filamentous proteins found in the peripheral cytoplasm of many cells5,8. Cytochalasins also partially inhibit the contractile response of glycerinated smooth muscle (B. Elford, A. C. A., and P. D., unpublished observations) and decrease the viscosity and ATPase activity of isolated striated muscle actomyosin9. On the other hand, electron microscope studies10 have shown that cytochalasin B does not interfere with the combination of skeletal muscle heavy mero-myosin and actin to form characteristic arrowhead complexes; however, functional impairment may not have a morphologically recognizable counterpart. It is clear that the various biological effects of cytochalasin B are readily reversible2,5 and occur in the absence of any cytotoxic effects4.

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WILLS, E., DAVIES, P., ALLISON, A. et al. Cytochalasin B Fails to Inhibit Pinocytosis by Macrophages. Nature New Biology 240, 58–60 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio240058a0

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