白芨中萜类化合物通过诱导血管内皮细胞凋亡抑制血管生成

本文研究了白芨中的萜类化合物对血管生成的抑制作用．及其抑制血管生成的可能机制。采用萃取和色谱法从白芨中分离和纯化了该萜类化合物。通过鸡胚绒毛囊膜（CAM）和人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）研究了白芨中萜类化合物及其粗提物对血管及血管内皮细胞的抑制作用。结果表明,含该萜类的粗提物显著抑制鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管生成;该萜类纯品能明显抑制HUVEC增殖,且可诱导HUVEC凋亡,包括细胞体积缩小,细胞膜起泡,细胞核裂解,染色质浓缩和边集,出现凋亡小体,DNA降解。因此．白芨萜类化合物的抗血管生成作用与诱导血管内皮细胞凋亡有关。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ促进内皮细胞凋亡和NOX4表达

目的分析高浓度血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）刺激人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）时细胞内活性氧（ROS）、NOX4mRNA水平和细胞凋亡的变化。方法倒置显微镜下观察人脐静脉内皮细胞形态;免疫组化法检测人脐静脉内皮细胞Ⅷ因子相关抗原的表达;RT—PCR检测HUVECs中NOX4的表达;流式细胞仪检测各组细胞内ROS生成量和细胞凋亡率,Hoechst染色分析细胞凋亡。结果高AngⅡ刺激HUVECs时,NOX4mRNA表达上调,细胞内ROS生成增加,细胞凋亡增加。结论高AngⅡ上调HUVCEs内NOX4mR—NA表达并促进细胞内ROS生成和细胞凋亡。     

模拟微重力导致人脐静脉内皮细胞微管骨架重构及增殖的影响

目的：观察模拟微重力（MMG）致人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）微管骨架结构的改变,并对MMG作用后细胞的增殖等功能进行评价。方法：酶消化法原代培养HUVECs,随机分为2D．clinostat干预的MMG培养组与NG对照培养组,均培养48h;倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态,细胞计数及流式细胞术分析细胞增殖、凋亡及细胞周期变化。结果：所培养的HUVECs细胞并经流式细胞术鉴定证实;MMG干预48h使大量的微管蛋白发生解聚,微管的网状结构已经模糊不见,随之代替的是崩解的微管小聚体;MMG可使HUvECs增殖明显抑制,细胞周期抑制于G2／M期（G2／M：MMG,27．6％;NG,18．1％;P〈0．05）,然而细胞并没有发生明显凋亡。结论：MMG可显著影响HUVECs的形态与细胞骨架结构并抑制其增殖功能,HUVECs的增殖抑制可能与紊乱的微管结构密切相关。     

过表达CREG抑制高糖诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡

目的：探讨E1A激活基因阻遏子（Cellular repressor of ElA-stimulated genes,CREG）在高糖引起的人脐静脉内皮细胞（Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells,HUVECs）损伤中的作用,为寻找糖尿病血管病变新的治疗靶点提供实验依据。方法：采用胶原酶消化法分离原代HUVECs,并用内皮细胞标志物CD31免疫荧光染色进行鉴定。分别用含有5．5mmol／1葡萄糖（正常糖对照组）、5．5mmol／1葡萄糖＋27．5mmol／1甘露醇（渗透压对照组）或33mmol／l葡萄糖（高糖组）的培养液培养HUVECs48h。WesternBlot检测剪切体caspase-3表达;AnnexinV／PI双染后流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡。通过感染表达CREG基因的腺病毒获得CREG过表达的HUvECs,WesternBlot及流式细胞术评价CREG过表达对HUVECs凋亡的影响。结果：高糖处理48h后,HUVECs内剪切体caspase-3的蛋白表达增加,细胞凋亡率增加;过表达CREG后,高糖处理的HUVECs内剪切体Caspase-3表达和凋亡细胞比例均明显降低,但仍高于正常糖对照组。结论：CREG过表达可抑制高糖引起的HUVECs凋亡。     

二苯乙烯苷抑制过氧化氢诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡

目的：研究二苯乙烯苷（TSG）对过氧化氢（H2O2）诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）凋亡的保护作用。方法：运用四甲基偶氮唑盐还原法（MTT法）和流式细胞术筛选建立细胞凋亡模型的H2O2合适浓度以及检测不同浓度TSG对H2O2诱导HUVECs的增殖率和凋亡率;Hoechst33258染色观察细胞凋亡形态。结果：MTT及流式法筛选300μmol/L为H2O2作用于细胞的最适凋亡浓度。MTT和流式结果显示,与H2O（2300μmol/L）损伤组比较,10μmol/L与100μmol/LTSG预处理组细胞的增殖率增加（P〈0.05）,凋亡率显著降低（P〈0.01）;Hoechst33258染色观察TSG能降低H2O2诱导的细胞凋亡,使细胞凋亡数减少。结论：TSG能抑制H2O2诱导的HUVECs凋亡,从而起到保护血管内皮细胞的作用。     

脂联素抑制t-BHP诱导的内皮细胞凋亡作用及其可能机制探讨

目的：探讨重组脂联素对第三丁基过氧化氢（t-BHP）诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs）凋亡的影响及其相关的分子机制。方法：以HUVECs作为研究对象,给予t-BHP处理,模拟体外HUVECs氧化损伤细胞凋亡模型。在此基础上,用携带重组脂联素基因的腺病毒转染HUVECs,观察重组脂联素对t-BHP诱导的HUVECs凋亡的影响。用MTT法检测细胞增殖活力。Hochest/PI荧光染色检测细胞凋亡率。Western blot检测细胞凋亡相关蛋白p-JNK、JNK和Caspase 3表达水平的变化。结果：100 μmol/L的t-BHP作用8 h可诱导HUVECs发生凋亡。与对照组相比,t-BHP组p-JNK、active caspase 3表达增多（P<0.01）。HUVECs高表达重组脂联素基因后,可明显抑制t-BHP诱导的HUVECs凋亡（P<0.01）,下调t-BHP诱导的p-JNK、active caspase 3表达。结论：持续t-BHP氧化损伤可诱导HUVECs发生凋亡。重组脂联素可有效抑制t-BHP诱导的HUVECs凋亡,其机制与p-JNK、active caspase 3的表达下调有关。     

福安泰-03对人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡和小鼠创伤愈合的影响

研究福安泰-03（Fuantai,FAT-03）对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞（humanumbilicalveinen－dothelialcells,HUVECs）凋亡和小鼠创伤愈合的影响。MTT法检查FAT-03对HUVECs和人低分化鼻咽癌细胞（CNE－2Z）生长的影响：聚碳酸酯膜小室趋化运动模型（Transwellmodel）检测,]FAT-03对HU-VECs运动能力的影响;荧光显微镜观察FAT-03作用下HUVECs的形态变化;膜联蛋白V-异硫氰酸荧光素（AnnexinV-fluoresceinisothiocyanate,AnnexinV-FITC）双染检测Ⅳm03对HUVECs早期凋亡的影响;流式细胞术分析FAT-03对HUVECs周期及凋亡的影响;Westernblot法分析FAT-03对HUVECs的血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）、Bcl．2、Bax表达的影响;小鼠背部创伤模型检查FAT-03对组织修复的影响;免疫组化法检查FAT-03对创伤组织微血管密度（microvesseldensity,MVD）和VEGF表达的影响。结果显示,FAT-03明显抑制HUVECs细胞的增殖和迁移,其抑制效果与剂量和作用时间相关,作用HUVECs24,48,72h的Ic50值为0．22,0．17,0．09mg／mL,但FAT-03对CNE．2Z细胞的生长却无明显的影响;0．16mg／mLFAT-03作用HUVECs24h对细胞迁移的抑制率为57．9％（P＜0．01）：FAT_03处理HUVECs48h,细胞的早期凋亡率增加（P〈0．05）;FAT-03阻滞HUVECs于G0／Gl期,并呈现典型的凋亡峰;0．16mg／mLFAT-03作用48,72h,HUVECs的凋亡率分别为14．6％、41．7％：鲋m03下调HUVECs的VEGF和抑凋亡基因Bcl-2的表达,上调促凋亡基因Bax的表达,其效果与剂量相关。FAT-03明显延迟小鼠创伤的愈合,且其作用与剂量相关。FAT-03组小鼠创伤周围组织微血管密度和VEGF阳性表达细胞都明显减少。因此,可以推测,FAT-03抑制HUVECs增殖并诱导其凋亡;抑制创伤组织的血管生成,进而延迟创伤愈合;它的这些作用可能与其下调VEGF、Bcl-2的表达,上调Bax的表达相关。     

肠道病毒A组71型在人脐静脉血管内皮细胞中的增殖及对细胞骨架的影响

目的研究肠道病毒A组71型(Enterovirus group A type 71,EV-A71)在人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(Human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)中的增殖及对细胞骨架造成的影响,初步探讨其与病毒血症发生的关系。方法采用qRT-PCR技术及免疫荧光技术检测EV-A71在HUVECs中的复制和增殖,用免疫荧光双染色技术观察三种细胞骨架在EV-A71感染后的变化。结果 EV-A71能够有效感染HUVECs,且感染后24 h在细胞内复制达到高峰。病毒感染后微丝骨架完全解聚,微管骨架排列方式发生改变,而中间纤维结构模糊不清;同时检测到微管及中间纤维与病毒抗原共存。结论 EV-A71可以感染HUVECs并在其内有效复制增殖,同时诱导HUVECs三种细胞骨架发生改变,提示细胞骨架可能参与EV-A71感染HUVECs的过程。     

重组福安泰-03抑制人脐静脉血管内皮细胞的迁移和增殖

研究重组福安泰-03(recombinant Fuantai-03,rFAT-03)对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)迁移和增殖的影响.聚碳酸酯膜小室趋化运动模型(transwell model)检测rFAT-03对HUVECs迁移能力的影响;MTT法检测rFAT-03对HUVECs和多种人癌细胞生长的影响;荧光显微镜观察rFAT-03作用下HUVECs的形态变化;膜联蛋白V-异硫氰酸荧光素(annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate,annexinV-FITC)双染检测rFAT-03对HUVECs早期凋亡的影响;流式细胞术分析rFAT-03对HUVECs周期及凋亡的影响;Western印迹检查rFAT-03对HUVECs血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)、Bax和Bcl-2表达的影响.结果显示,rFAT-03明显抑制HUVECs细胞的迁移和增殖,其抑制效果与剂量和作用时间相关.0.20mg/mL恩度(endostar),0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用HUVECs24h,对细胞迁移的抑制率分别为32.0%、32.6%、57.1%(P0.01).0.20mg/mL恩度,0.05、0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用HUVECs72h,其对细胞生长的抑制率分别为40.9%、63.7%、69.3%、87.0%.但rFAT-03对多种人癌细胞株的生长却无明显影响.rFAT-03处理HUVECs24h,细胞的早期凋亡率增加(P0.05).rFAT-03阻滞HUVECs于G0/G1期,并呈现典型的凋亡峰.终浓度为0.05、0.10、0.20mg/mLrFAT-03作用于HUVECs24h,G0/G1期细胞指数分别为63.4%、67.5%和75.7%(对照组为62.1%),凋亡指数分别为4.2%、8.5%和10.3%.rFAT-03下调HUVECs的VEGF和抑调亡基因Bcl-2的表达,上调促凋亡基因Bax的表达,其效果与剂量相关.结果提示,rFAT-03明显抑制HUVECs细胞的迁移和增殖,诱导其凋亡,它的这些作用与其下调VEGF、Bcl-2表达,上调Bax表达密切相关.     

Rac1蛋白活化加速缺氧诱导的人血管内皮细胞衰老

为阐明Rac1蛋白在人脐静脉内皮细胞（human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs）衰老中的作用及分子机制,我们采用持续缺氧的方法诱导内皮细胞衰老,检测缺氧前后内皮细胞衰老标志基因SA-β-Gal和PAI-1的表达、细胞周期分布和细胞增殖情况,同时分析缺氧前后细胞内Rac1蛋白的表达.结果显示,持续缺氧96 h后,HUVECs体积变大,细胞浆内颗粒和空泡增多,SA-β-Gal活性明显增加,PAI-1基因表达升高,细胞发生G1期阻滞,细胞增殖受抑,活化型Rac1蛋白表达上调,提示持续缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老可能与Rac1蛋白的活化有关.为进一步明确内皮细胞衰老与Rac1蛋白的关系,应用逆转录病毒将持续活化型Rac1（V12Rac1）和主导抑制型Rac1（N17Rac1）基因分别瞬时感染HUVECs,比较三种HUVECs（HUVECs,V12Rac1-HUVECs,N17Rac1-HUVECs）缺氧后的衰老变化,并分析其下游调控分子--血清反应因子（serum response factor,SRF）的表达和定位变化.研究发现,缺氧培养V12Rac1-HUVECs 48 h即可引起细胞衰老,表现为SA-β-Gal活性明显增加,PAI-1基因表达升高,细胞出现明显的G1期阻滞并且细胞增殖受抑,其改变与缺氧96 h的HUVECs相似;而N17Rac1明显抑制缺氧引起的内皮细胞衰老发生.上述结果说明,Rac1蛋白活化可以加速缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老,而抑制Rac1蛋白的活性则可抑制缺氧诱导的内皮细胞衰老.为进一步研究Rac1蛋白引起内皮细胞衰老的机制,通过免疫荧光染色及Western blot分析检测三种细胞缺氧处理后SRF的表达,发现：与HUVECs细胞比较,V12Rac1引起缺氧48 h HUVECs核蛋白中SRF的表达明显下降,SRF入核转位受到明显抑制;而N17Rac1感染后,缺氧HUVECs细胞核蛋白中SRF表达明显增多.上述结果提示：缺氧状态下Rac1蛋白活化能够明显加速HUVECs衰老,而抑制Rac1蛋白活性则明显抑制缺氧诱导的HUVECs衰老,SRF蛋白的核转位活化参与了Rac1蛋白调控HUVECs衰老的发生.     

Microtubules regulate aortic endothelial cell actin microfilament reorganization in intact and repairing monolayers

To understand the role of microtubules and microfilaments in regulating endothelial monolayer integrity and repair, and since microtubules and microfilaments show some co-alignment in endothelial cells, we tested the hypothesis that microtubules organize microfilament distribution. Disruption of microtubules with colchicine in resting confluent aortic endothelial monolayers resulted in disruption of microfilament distribution with a loss of dense peripheral bands, an increase in actin microfilament bundles, and an associated increase of focal adhesion proteins at the periphery of the cells. However, when microfilaments were disrupted with cytochalasin B, microtubule distribution did not change. During the early stages of wound repair of aortic endothelial monolayers, microtubules and microfilaments undergo a sequential series of changes in distribution prior to cell migration. They are initially distributed randomly relative to the wound edge, then align parallel to the wound edge and then elongate perpendicular to the wound edge. When microtubules in wounded cultures were disrupted, dense peripheral bands and lamellipodia formation were lost with increases in central stress fibers. However, following microfilament disruption, microtubule redistribution was not disrupted and the microtubules elongated perpendicular to the wound edge similar to non-treated cultures. Microtubules may organize independently of microfilaments while microfilaments require microtubules to maintain normal organization in confluent and repairing aortic endothelial monolayers.     

Microtubules are involved in transport of macromolecules by vesicles in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

The macromolecular transport in bovine aortic endothelial monolayers, cultured in vitro, was studied by fluorescence microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A fluid-phase endocytic tracer, fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran 70 kD (FITC-dextran 70), was found to be transported into and out of endothelial cells via vesicles arranged as chains stretching between the luminal surface and the cell interior and also from cell interior to the abluminal surface. The endocytic activity was reduced by colchicine, which disrupts microtubules, and increased during treatment with cytochalasin B, which blocks microfilament polymerization. These findings indicate that microtubules are required for fluid-phase endocytosis and that microfilaments hinder this process. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Disappearance of the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells caused by Argonaute2 knockdown

Argonaute2 (Ago2), a component protein of RNA-induced silencing complex, plays a central role in RNA interference. We focused on the involvement of Ago2 in angiogenesis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with several growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor were used for angiogenesis assays. We applied polycation liposomes for transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to determine the biological effects of siRNA for Ago2 (siAgo2) on HUVECs. The proliferation study indicated that siAgo2 significantly suppressed the growth of HUVECs compared with control siRNA. TUNEL staining showed a certain population of HUVECs treated with siAgo2 underwent apoptosis. Furthermore, the treatment with siAgo2 suppressed the tube formation of HUVECs and significantly reduced the length of the tubes. These present data demonstrate that siAgo2 inhibited indispensable events of angiogenesis in vitro. This is the first report suggesting that Ago2 is required for angiogenesis.     

‘Rings’ of F-actin form around the nucleus in cultured human MCF7 adenocarcinoma cells upon exposure to both taxol and taxotere

The anti-cancer taxoids, Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Taxotere® (docetaxel), are the most promising anti-mitotic agents developed for cancer treatment in the past decade. The effectiveness of this new class of compounds lies in their unique mechanism of action on the cytoskeleton. Both taxol and taxotere bind to microtubules and shift the normal equilibrium between monomeric and polymerized tubulin to favor the polymerized form by strongly promoting tubulin assembly and inhibiting microtubule depolymerization. Although very similar in structure, these two compounds have recently demonstrated different in vitro, in vivo, and clinical activities; however, no study to date has effectively compared specific cytoskeletal alterations induced by taxol and taxotere in cultured cells. Using specific staining techniques for both F-actin and α-tubulin, this study provides the first detailed immunohistochemical comparison of the effects of equimolar concentrations of taxol and taxotere on both the microfilament and microtubule networks in a cultured cell line. Using human MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells, new observations of taxotere/taxol alterations of the cytoskeleton include: an increased abundance of parallel microtubule ‘bundles’ in taxotere treated cells and a definitive reorganization of the microfilament network which results in novel ring-like formations of F-actin condensed exclusively in the perinuclear zone. Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton induced by a taxoid disruption of the microtubule equilibrium is indicative of the interdependence between microtubules and microfilaments in this transformed cell line and suggests that the indirect role of the taxoids on the microfilament network may have been overlooked in their mechanism of action as chemotherapeutic agents.     

Role of cytoskeleton in gravisensing of the root elongation zone in Arabidopsis thaliana plants

In order to reveal the involvement of tubulin microtubules and actin microfilaments in gravisensing reactions in the distal elongation zone of root, Arabidopsis thaliana plants stably transformed with MAP4-GFP construct were grown under slow clinorotation. Experiments have shown that stabilization of cell growth in the distal elongation zone of Arabidopsis seedling root is provided by common structural organization of microtubules and microfilaments, and interrelations between microtubules and microfilaments is highly dependent upon the type of cell differential growth. Less pronounced effect of microfilament disruption on microtubule organization has been observed under clinorotation and it suggests the existence of complex mechanism of cooperation between microtubules and microfilaments which is probably, masked on earth.     

Hydrostatic pressure induced changes in the cytoarchitecture of pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells.

Confocal microscopy, in association with three-dimensional reconstruction, revealed that microtubules and microfilaments in differentiating PC-12 cells were disrupted in a dose-dependent manner following pressure treatment. Hydrostatic pressure caused cell rounding, microtubule and microfilament disorganization, neurite retraction and the formation of a microtubule ring adjacent to the cell surface. Volume analysis from computer-generated reconstructed cells, at atmospheric pressure, showed that the apparent volume of microtubules and microfilaments, normalized to 100 units, was 22 and 11 respectively. At 4000 and 8000 psi, the apparent microtubule volume was reduced to 16 and 12 units, respectively, and the apparent microfilament volume was reduced to 8 and 5 units, respectively. Thus, the apparent microtubule and microfilament volumes in PC-12 cells decreased as pressure increased. In the presence of taxol and phalloidin which stabilize the cytoarchitecture, cells resist the effects of hydrostatic pressure. In the presence of colchicine and cytochalasin D compounds which destabilize the cytoarchitecture, cells are more susceptible to the disrupting effects of hydrostatic pressure. The effects of hydrostatic pressure on cell morphology were reversible.     

肝细胞生长因子抑制糖基化终产物诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞的凋亡作用

目的探讨肝细胞生长因子(HGF)抑制糖基化终产物(AGEs)诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡的作用及其相关分子机制。方法体外培养ECV-304人脐静脉内皮细胞,采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法测定HGF对AGEs作用后ECV-304细胞生长抑制率的影响;通过Hoechst33258荧光染色观察细胞形态学改变、流式细胞术测定AnnexinV-FITC/PI双染标记的细胞凋亡率,检测HGF对AGEs诱导ECV-304细胞凋亡的影响;Western印迹法检测Bax、Bcl-2蛋白的表达。结果HGF能明显降低AGEs对ECV-304细胞生长的抑制作用;AGE诱导培养的ECV-304细胞出现明显的凋亡形态学改变,在一定浓度范围内,ECV-304细胞凋亡率与AGEs的浓度和作用时间呈依赖关系,加入HGF处理后可显著降低不同时间的内皮细胞凋亡率;HGF作用ECV-304细胞后Bcl-2蛋白表达明显升高,而Bax蛋白表达无明显变化。结论AGEs能诱导内皮细胞凋亡,而HGF能部分抑制AGEs诱导的内皮细胞凋亡,其作用机制可能与上调Bcl-2蛋白的表达水平有关。     

Cortical microtubules and cortical microfilaments in the green alga,Micrasterias pinnatifida

Summary Cortical microtubules and cortical microfilaments were visualized in cells ofMicrasterias pinnatifida treated by freeze-substitution, and the pattern of their distribution was reconstructed from serial sections. Most cortical microtubules accompanied the long microfilaments that ran parallel to the microtubules. Cortical microfilaments not accompanied by the microtubules were also found. They were short and slightly curved. Both types of cortical microfilament were not grouped into bundles, and were 6–7 nm in diameter, a value that corresponds to the diameter of filaments of F-actin.     

Hepatocyte growth factor protects human endothelial cells against advanced glycation end products-induced apoptosis

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form by a non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and biological proteins, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we assessed AGEs effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) growth, proliferation and apoptosis. Additionally, we investigated whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), an anti-apoptotic factor for endothelial cells, prevents AGEs-induced apoptosis of HUVECs. HUVECs were treated with AGEs in the presence or absence of HGF. Treatment of HUVECs with AGEs changed cell morphology, decreased cell viability, and induced DNA fragmentation, leading to apoptosis. Apoptosis was induced by AGEs in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. AGEs markedly elevated Bax and decreased NF-kappaB, but not Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, AGEs significantly inhibited cell growth through a pro-apoptotic action involving caspase-3 and -9 activations in HUVECs. Most importantly, pretreatment with HGF protected against AGEs-induced cytotoxicity in the endothelial cells. HGF significantly promoted the expression of Bcl-2 and NF-kappaB, while decreasing the activities of caspase-3 and -9 without affecting Bax level. Our data suggest that AGEs induce apoptosis in endothelial cells. HGF effectively attenuate AGEs-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. These findings provide new perspectives in the role of HGF in cardiovascular disease.     

Distribution of the 36 000 Dalton tyrosine protein kinase substrate in drug and epidermal growth factor-treated epithelial cells

In immunofluorescent staining the 36000 D substrate protein (p36) of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation is distributed relatively homogeneously in non-tumorigenic MMC-E epithelial cells. A relative lack of p36 staining is found in the nuclease and along ventral microfilament bundles of the cells. Increased concentrations of p36 are detected at the cell surface and especially at cell-cell contact sites. The bulk of p36 antigen is not redistributed by drug treaments that selectively redistribute cytokeratin, or disrupt microtubules or actin microfilaments. The gross distribution of p36 is neither affected by EGF stimulation nor by the associated rapid morphological and cytoskeletal changes. It thus appears unlikely that p36 would be a structural component of the cytoskeletal system of cultured epithelial cells.