Microtubule network provides many intracellular microbes with an efficient way to move within host cells. Orientia tsutsugamushi move from the cell periphery to the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) by dynein-dependent mechanism. In this study, we investigated the role of microtubule on the growth of O. tsutsugamushi. The treatment of infected cells with taxol as well as daunomycin enhanced the bacterial growth in contrast to colchicine. Immunofluorescent (IF) staining of taxol-treated cells exhibited that O. tsutsugamushi clustered tightly near the nucleus with thick bundles of microtubules, whereas dispersed in the cytoplasm in colchicine-treated cells. These results suggest that microtubule network facilitate the growth of O. tsutsugamushi.
Colchicine ; Cytoplasm ; Daunorubicin ; Microtubule-Organizing Center ; Microtubules ; Orientia tsutsugamushi* ; Paclitaxel

PURPOSE: To evaluate morphological differences in proprioceptors in extraocular muscles between congenital exotropia, acquired exotropia and congenital nystagmus. METHODS: Nine medial recti including the myotendinous junction were resected using medial rectus resection in three congenital and five acquired exotropia patients. Two medial recti and two lateral recti were resected using the modified Kestenbaum procedure in two congenital nystagmus patients. The muscle tissues were examined under a light microscope following examination with a transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: In the congenital exotropia group, the electron microscopic findings showed degenerative changes in proprioceptors, such as decreased microtubules, axonal shrinkage and decreased myelin thickness. In the acquired exotropia group, the neural structures in the myotendinous junction were well maintained. There were no neural structures in the myotendinous junction in the congenital nystagmus group. CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the type of strabismus, there may be morphological differences in proprioceptors of extraocular muscles.
Axons ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Microtubules ; Muscles* ; Myelin Sheath ; Nystagmus, Congenital* ; Strabismus

From neurophenomenological perspectives, schizophrenia has been conceptualized as "a disorder with heterogeneous manifestations that can be integrally understood to involve fundamental perturbations in consciousness". While these theoretical constructs based on consciousness facilitate understanding the 'gestalt' of schizophrenia, systematic research to unravel translational implications of these models is warranted. To address this, one needs to begin with exploration of plausible biological underpinnings of "perturbed consciousness" in schizophrenia. In this context, an attractive proposition to understand the biology of consciousness is "the orchestrated object reduction (Orch-OR) theory" which invokes quantum processes in the microtubules of neurons. The Orch-OR model is particularly important for understanding schizophrenia especially due to the shared 'scaffold' of microtubules. The initial sections of this review focus on the compelling evidence to support the view that "schizophrenia is a disorder of consciousness" through critical summary of the studies that have demonstrated self-abnormalities, aberrant time perception as well as dysfunctional intentional binding in this disorder. Subsequently, these findings are linked with 'Orch-OR theory' through the research evidence for aberrant neural oscillations as well as microtubule abnormalities observed in schizophrenia. Further sections emphasize the applicability and translational implications of Orch-OR theory in the context of schizophrenia and elucidate the relevance of quantum biology to understand the origins of this puzzling disorder as "fundamental disturbances in consciousness".
Biology ; Consciousness* ; Microtubules ; Neurons ; Quantum Theory* ; Schizophrenia* ; Time Perception

The present study involves a chronological and comparative analysis of both microtubule-associated protein 1A (MAP1A) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) immunoreactivities in the striatum of both seizure resistant (SR) and seizure sensitive (SS) gerbil. The MAP1A immunoreactivity is weakly detected in perikarya of SR gerbils. However, MAP1A immunoreactivity is more accumulated in perikarya and dendrites in the pre-seizure group. At 30 min postictal, MAP1A immunoreactivity in the perikarya is decreased. At 3 hr postictal, MAP1A immunoreactivity in perikarya and dendrites is similarly decreased to the level of SR gerbils. The MAP2 immunoreactivity is weakly detected in the perikarya and dendrites of SR gerbils. However, MAP2 immunoreactivity is more accumulated in perikarya and dendrites. In particular, the neuropil between unstained fiber tracts obviously contains strong MAP2 immunoreactivity. At 30 min postictal, MAP2 immunoreactivity isn't almost observed in striatum. At 3 hr postictal, the MAP2 immunoreactivity is not different in the 30 min post -seizure groups but is only observed in the neuropil. However, at 12 hr postictal, the decrease of both MAP1A and MAP2 immunoreactivities had recovered to the pre -seizure level of SS gerbils. These results suggest that MAPs immunoreactivity in the striatum is different in SR and SS gerbils, and that this difference may be the results of seizure activity in this animal.
Animals ; Dendrites ; Epilepsy ; Gerbillinae* ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins* ; Microtubules* ; Neuropil ; Seizures*

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effects of bio-intensity electric field on directional migration and microtubule acetylation in human epidermal cell line HaCaT, aiming to provide molecular theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of wound repair. Methods: The experimental research methods were used. HaCaT cells were collected and divided into simulated electric field group (n=54) placed in the electric field device without electricity for 3 h and electric field treatment group (n=52) treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for 3 h (the same treatment methods below). The cell movement direction was observed in the living cell workstation and the movement velocity, trajectory velocity, and direction of cosθ of cell movement within 3 h of treatment were calculated. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment 1 h group, electric field treatment 2 h group, and electric field treatment 3 h group which were treated with 200 mV/mm electric field for corresponding time. HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group treated with electric field of corresponding intensities for 3 h. The protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected by Western blotting (n=3). HaCaT cells were divided into simulated electric field group and electric field treatment group, and the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin was detected and located by immunofluorescence method (n=3). Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test,Mann-Whitney U test, Bonferroni correction, one-way analysis of variance, least significant difference test, and independent sample t test. Results: Within 3 h of treatment, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the cells in electric field treatment group had obvious tendency to move directionally, the movement velocity and trajectory velocity were increased significantly (with Z values of -8.53 and -2.05, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the directionality was significantly enhanced (Z=-8.65, P<0.01). Compared with (0.80±0.14) in simulated electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in electric field treatment 1 h group (1.50±0.08) and electric field treatment 2 h group (1.89±0.06) were not changed obviously (P>0.05), while the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in electric field treatment 3 h group (3.37±0.36) was increased significantly (Z=-3.06, P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 100 mV/mm electric field group, 200 mV/mm electric field group, and 300 mV/mm electric field group were 1.63±0.05, 2.24±0.08, and 2.00±0.13, respectively, which were significantly more than 0.95±0.27 in simulated electric field group (P<0.01). Compared with that in 100 mV/mm electric field group, the protein expressions of acetylated α-tubulin in 200 mV/mm electric field group and 300 mV/mm electric field group were increased significantly (P<0.01); the protein expression of acetylated α-tubulin of cells in 300 mV/mm electric field group was significantly lower than that in 200 mV/mm electric field group (P<0.05). After treatment for 3 h, compared with that in simulated electric field group, the acetylated α-tubulin of cells had enhanced directional distribution and higher protein expression (t=5.78, P<0.01). Conclusions: Bio-intensity electric field can induce the directional migration of HaCaT cells and obviously up-regulate the level of α-ubulin acetylation after treatment at 200 mV/mm bio-intensity electric field for 3 h.
Humans ; Acetylation ; Tubulin/metabolism* ; Microtubules/metabolism* ; Electricity ; Epidermal Cells/metabolism*

Taxol, an anticancer drug, blocks cell division by stabilizing microtubules. However, taxol has distinct cell-cycle-independent effects. For example, taxol and bacterial LPS induce strikingly similar responses in murine microglial cells. Here, we report that taxol, like LPS, provides a ""second"" signal for murine microglial cell activation to induce tumoricidal activity. Tumoricidal activity determined by MTT assay appeared that taxol or LPS alone weakly activated microglial cells to kill P815 mastocytoma cells, whereas combinations of taxol or LPS with IFN-r synergized to activate macrophages to lyse tumor cells in a dose dependent manner. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) correlated with tumor cell killing, and the activated microglial cells failed to kill tumor cell targets in the presence of N'-monomethyl-L-arginine (N'MMA), a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS). Treatment of the cells with anti-TNF-a neutralizing antibodies clearly blocked taxol plus IFN-r induced tumoricidal activity as well as NO production. Collectively, the data illustrate the potential for taxol to activate microglial cell mediated-antitumor mechanisms in addition to its better characterized role as an anti-mitotic agent.
Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Cell Division ; Homicide ; Macrophages ; Mastocytoma ; Microglia ; Microtubules ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Paclitaxel*

Eribulin is a synthetic microtubule dynamics inhibitor that was developed from a marine natural product halichondrin B. It exhibited in vitro and in vivo activities against a wide number of malignancies. A number of advanced phase trials showed improved survival following eribulin treatment in pretreated advanced breast cancer patients. This review provides an overview of the background to the therapeutic use of eribulin in oncology, including its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and potential economic factors.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Drug Evaluation ; Ethers, Cyclic ; Furans ; Humans ; Ketones ; Macrolides ; Microtubules

PURPOSE: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent with potent microtubule stabilizing activity that arrests cells in G2-M phase. Because G2 and M are the most radiosensitive phase of the cell cycle, paclitaxel has potential role as a cell-cycle specific radiosensitizer. This study was performed to see the effects of paclitaxel on the radiation-induced damage of gastric mucosa of the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were divided into the three groups i.e., paclitaxel alone group, radiation alone group and, a combination of paclitaxel and radiation in combined group. A single intraperitoneal infusion of paclitaxel (10 mg/kg) was done in paclitaxel alone group. In radiation alone group, a single fraction of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen and, a combination of a single fraction of irradiation (8 Gy, x-ray) to the whole abdomen was given 24 hrs after paclitaxel infusion in combined group of paclitaxel and radiation. The incidence of mitosis and apoptosis as well as histologic changes of the gastric mucosa were evaluated at 6 hrs, 24 hrs, 3 days and 5 days after treatment. RESULTS: The number of the mitosis was not increased by paclitaxel infusion. The incidence of the apoptosis was similar from 6 hrs to 3 days after paclitaxel infusion and was decreased at 5 days. Paclitaxel induced minimal glandular dilatation and cellular atypia of gastric mucosa at 24 hrs and 3 days. In irradiation group, the incidence of apoptosis was 6.0% in 6 hrs and 1.25% in 24 hrs after irradiation and minimal glandular dilatation and cellular atypia were noted throughout the experimental period. The incidence of apoptosis in the combined group of paclitaxel and irradiation (4.5%) was significantly higher than irradiation alone group (1.25%) at 3 days (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel had no effect on mitotic arrest in gastric mucosa of the rat. Increased number of apoptosis in combined paclitaxel and irradiation group suggested the additive effects of paclitaxel on irradiation.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Dilatation ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Incidence ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Microtubules ; Mitosis ; Paclitaxel* ; Rats* ; Stomach

The kinesin superfamily is a class of motor proteins moving along microtubule filaments and playing essential roles in mitosis of eukaryotic cells. In the cancer biology, mitotic activity is an essential factor for development and metastasis of various cancers. Therefore, the inhibition of kinesin activity is suggested as an alternative cancer therapy. Accumulated clinical evidences have proved the potency of kinesin inhibitors in cancer treatments. In this review, we provided an overview of kinesins that play a critical role in the pathophysiology of various cancers and described the beneficial vs. side effects of their inhibitors that have been tested in both basic science and clinical studies.
Biology ; Eukaryotic Cells ; Kinesin* ; Microtubules ; Mitosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Translational Medical Research*

The Kingdom fungus has a unique structure and organization. Recent advances in electron microscopy and use of specific cytochemical technique enable the ultrastructures to be visualized. The hypha is a tube-like structure with a rigid wall, containing a moving slug of protoplasm. Hypha grows only at the tapered apical tip region, which is called extension zone. Extreme tip area has apical vesicle cluster which is responsible for tip growth. Unique fungal structure, Spitzenk rper, is thought to be a central region of the apical vesicle cluster. Most hyphal structures except the species belong to Zygomycetes have septa. But the septum is not completely blocked and it has different types of opening pores. The simple septal pores with Woronin bodies, which are found in Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes, can be plugged in two different mechanisms. During normal differentiation the pores become occluded by a gradual deposition of plugged material. Loss of cytoplasm from damaged hyphae can be reduced and blocked by the rapid occlusion of septal pores by Woronin bodies or hexagonal crystal bodies. Septal sealing in Basidiomycetes which have dolipore septum is made by the rapid formation of electron-dense pore plugs. The shape of the fungal cell is the shape of fungal wall. Fungal walls appear to be composed of layers, which are thought to merge into one another to form one structure. The cytoskeleton consists of microtubules and microfilaments with motor proteins, and they seems to act together in the fungal cells.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoskeleton ; Fungal Structures ; Fungi ; Gastropoda ; Hyphae ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microtubules ; Mitosporic Fungi