Syncytia

Yoshida H, Koga Y, Moroi Y, Kimura G, Nomoto K. The effect of p561ck, a lymphocyte specific protein tyrosine kinase, on the syncytium formation induced by human immunodeficiency vims envelope glycoprotein. Int Immunol 1992 4(2) 233-242. 

Because of their interference with the interaction between the viral envelope gpl20 glycoprotein and the cellular CD4 receptor, poly anionic substances not only inhibit virus adsorption to the cells but also block syncytium (giant cell) formation between the HIV-infected (gpl20 + ) cells and uninfected (CD4 + ) cells. Since syncytium formation results in a selective destruction of the CD4+ cells, this syncytium formation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIDS (a hallmark of which is a progressive decline of the CD4+ cells). 

The clinical potential of the fusion inhibitors in the therapy and/or prophylaxis of HIV infections remains a subject for further study. Since these compounds directly interfere with syncytium formation, they should be able to block HIV infections generated by both free virus particles and HIV-infected cells. It is not known how readily the virus may become resistant to this class of compounds. For betulinic acid, it has been ascertained that some HIV-1 strains (e.g., NDK) may be resistant ab initio. 

Schols D, Pauwels R, Witvrouw M, Desmyter J, De Clercq E. Differential activity of polyanionic compounds and castanospermine against HIV replication and HIV-induced syncytium formation depending on virus strain and cell type. Antiviral Chem Chemother 1992 3 23-29. 

Gap junctions provide electrical communication between cells, forming a functional syncytium Myogenic... 

From the SA node, the heart beat spreads rapidly throughout both atria by way of the gap junctions. As mentioned previously, the atria are stimulated to contract simultaneously. An interatrial conduction pathway extends from the SA node to the left atrium. Its function is to facilitate conduction of the impulse through the left atrium, creating the atrial syncytium (see Figure 13.3). 

Jones, M.G.K. and Northcote, D.H. (1972) Nematode-induced syncytium -a multinucleate transfer ceil. Journal of Cell Science 10, 789-809. 

Jones, M.G.K. and Payne, H.L. (1978) Early stages of nematode-induced syncytium giant-cell formation in roots of Impatiens balsamina. Journal of Nematology 10, 70-84. 

FIGURE 5-14 Spatial buffering by astrocytes. This conceptual diagram indicates the pathways available for potassium ions to diffuse through the glial syncytium (light red) subsequent to their release from neuronal membranes (dark red) during neural activity. 

De Clercq s group did not observe any inhibition of syncytium formation by the biscyclam containing an aliphatic linker (3), but observed it in the case of the biscyclam containing an aromatic linker (30), albeit at... 

An interesting idea is that in small arteries such as the rat basilar STOCs elicited by sparks can exert a negative feedback on the membrane potential of the smooth muscle syncytium (cells are linked by low resistance pathways) the hyperpolarization so produced will reduce Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Thus, in pressurized arteries where the membrane potential is lower than in the relaxed state and there is significant Ca2+ influx into... 

Morphologically, this is demonstrated by the development of a multinuclear syncytium with apical microvilli [49], while functional differentiation is associated with induction and synthesis of hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) [50, 51]. Cultures of primary cytotrophoblasts have been used to study functional expression of P-gp, amino acid uptake, and hormonal stimulation of amino acid uptake and... 

Sheppard, H. W., Celum, C., Michael, N. L., et al. (2002) HIV-1 infection in individuals with the CCR5-Delta32/Delta32 genotype acquisition of syncytium-inducing virus at seroconversion. J. Acquir. Immune. Defic. Syndr. 29, 307-313. 

Over 100 years ago, a debate was raging between the two most famous neuroscientists in the world concerning the nature of the nervous system. Golgi believed that all neurons were connected in a nerve net or syncytium whereas Ramon y Cajal believed that neurons were separated from each other by tiny spaces called synapses. Cajal proved to be correct, and it was later learned that neurons communicate across the synapse by releasing chemical substances known as neurotransmitters or by releasing electrical charges. Because chemical neurotransmission is much more common than electrical transmission, especially in the brain, and it is chemical neurotransmission that is modulated by psychiatric medicines, our discussion will focus on the chemotransmitter process. In simplest terms, the process of chemical neurotransmission occurs in three steps neurotransmitter production, neurotransmitter release, and neurotransmitter action on specific receptors. 

Cuitures were assessed for syncytium formation and the fusion index (FI) was determined using the formula (N -S)/T, where Vis the number of nuciei in a syncytium, S is the number of sync3dia, and Tis the total number of nuclei. Over 500 nuclei were counted in each experiment to obtain the FI value. 

M813 INEECTION OF HUMAN TE671 CELLS EXPRESSING MSMITl INDUCES MASSIVE SYNCYTIUM INDUCTION... 

---