Abstract
Developing eosinophils from the bone marrow of a patient with acute “eosinophilic” leukemia were characterized by electron microscopy. It was suggested that the first sequential step in granule formation occurred at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum without actual participation of the Golgi complex. Progressive densification of the former profiles, presumably mediated by Golgi vesicles, resulted in the formation of dense immature granules. Ultrastructural observations of the “leukemic” eosinophils which were generally arrested at an intermediate stage of maturation revealed also large vacuoles containing sequestered immature granules, without any indication of phagocytic activity. Morphological evidence that has been accumulated indicates that the membrane of these vacuoles fused with the cell membrane, thus being in contact with the extracellular space. These profiles strongly suggested that granules and/or granule-associated material were secreted by developing bone marrow eosinophils.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Seeman, P.M., andG.E. Palade. 1967. Acid phosphatase localization in rabbit eosinophils.J. Cell Biol. 34:745.
Wetzel, B.K., S.S. Spicer, andR.G. Horn. 1967. Fine structural localization of acid and alkaline phosphatases in cells of rabbit blood and bone marrow.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15:311.
Miller, F., andV. Herzog. 1969. Die Lokalization von Peroxydase und saure Phosphatase in eosinophilen Leucocytes während der Reifung.Z. Zellforsch. 97:84.
Cohn, Z.A., andJ.G. Hirsch. 1960. The isolation and properties of the specific cytoplasmic granules of rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes.J. Exp. Med. 112:983.
Zucker-Franklin, D. 1974. Eosinophil function and disorders.Adv. Intern. Med. 19:1.
Cotran, R.S., andM. Litt. 1969. The entry of granule associated peroxydase into the phagocytic vacuoles of eosinophils.J. Exp. Med. 129:1291.
Dunn, W.B., J.H. Hardin, andS. Spicer. 1968. Ultrastructural localization of myeloperoxydase in human neutrophil and rabbit heterophil and eosinophil leucocytes.Blood 32:935.
Barnhart, M.I., andJ.M. Riddle. 1963. Cellular localization of profibrinolysin (plasminogen).Blood 21:306.
Scott, R.E., andR.G. Horn. 1970. Fine structural features of eosinophile granulocyte development in human bone marrow. Evidence for granule secretion.J. Ultrastruct. Res. 33:16.
Bainton, D.F., andM.G. Farquhar. 1968. Differences in enzyme content of azurophil and specific cytoplasmic granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. II-Cytochemistry and electron microscopy of bone marrow cells.J. Cell Biol. 39:299.
Bainton, D.F., andM.G. Farquhar. 1970. Segregation and packaging of granule enzymes in eosinophilic leukocytes.J. Cell Biol. 45:54.
Luft, J.H. 1961. Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods.J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol. 9:409.
Jamieson, J.D., andG. Palade. 1967. Intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the pancreatic exocrine cell. I-Role of the peripheral elements of the Golgi complex.J. Cell Biol. 34:577.
Jamieson, J.D., andG. Palade. 1967. Intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the pancreatic exocrine cell. II-Transport to condensing vacuoles and zymogen granules.J. Cell Biol. 34:597.
Amsterdam, A., I. Ohad, andM. Schramm. 1969. Dynamic changes in the ultrastructure of the acinar cell of the rat parotid gland during the secretory cycle.J. Cell Biol. 41:753.
Goldstein, I., S. Hoffstein, J. Gallin, andG. Weissmann. 1973. Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes: Microtubule assembly and membrane fusion induced by a component of complement.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 70:2916.
Goldstein, I.M., M. Brai, A. Osler, andG. Weissmann. 1973. Lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes: Mediation by the alternative pathway of complement activation.J. Immunol. 111:33.
Henson, P.M. 1974.In Mediators of Inflammation. Gerald Weissman, editor. Plenum Press, New York and London. 205.
Zurier, R.B., S. Hoffstein, andG. Weissmann. 1973. Cytochalasin B. Effect on Lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 70:844.
Zurier, R.B., G. Weissmann, S. Hoffstein, S. Kammerman, andH.H. Tai. 1974. Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes. II-Effects of cAMP and cGMP, autonomic agonists and agents which affect microtubule function.J. Clin. Invest. 53:297.
Weissmann, G., I. Goldstein, S. Hoffstein, andP.K. Tsung. 1975. Reciprocal effects of cAMP and cGMP on microtubule-dependent release of lysosomal enzymes.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 253:750.
Weissmann, G., I. Goldstein, S. Hoffstein, G. Chauvet, andR. Robineaux. 1975. YIN/YANG modulation of lysosomal enzyme release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes by cyclic nucleotides.Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 256:222.
Cohen, S., andP.A. Ward. 1971. In vitro and in vivo activity of a lymphocyte and immune complex-dependent chemotactic factor for eosinophils.J. Exp. Med. 133:133.
Greene, B.M., andD.G. Colley. 1974. Eosinophils and immune mechanisms.J. Immunol. 113:910.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anteunis, A., Astesano, A. & Robineaux, R. Ultrastructural characteristics of developingeosinophil leukocytes in human bone marrow during acute leukemia. Evidence for extracellular granule release from human eosinophils. Inflammation 2, 17–26 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920871
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00920871