Administration of cytoskeleton drugs during induction of apoptosis in U937 cells

Abstract

The effect of administration of cytoskeleton drugs, i.e. cytochalasin B, colchicines and taxol, during the induction of apoptosis in U937 cells by means of oxidative stress (H 2 O 2 ), heat shock and inhibition of protein synthesis (puromycin) was investigated. The ultrastructure of each of the "mature" apoptotic morphologies was compared at the transmission electron microscope. Changes in the morphology of apoptotic U937 cells were found to be inducer-dependent and appeared to be influenced by the presence of cytoskeletal drugs. However cytoskeleton integrity was found to be a dispensable factor for the onset of apoptosis, while it was an essential one for apoptotic morphology maturation, i.e. for the formation of blebs and apoptotic bodies and for nucleus fragmentation.KEY WORDS: Cytocalsin B -Taxol -Colchicines -Puromycin Morphology of apoptosis.