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Enhancement of chemotactic response and microtubule assembly in human leukocytes by ascorbic acid
Author(s) -
Boxer Laurence A.,
Vanderbilt Burton,
Bonsib Stephen,
Jersild Ralph,
Yang HsinHsin,
Baehner Robert L.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041000112
Subject(s) - ascorbic acid , microtubule , colchicine , incubation , tubulin , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , chemotaxis , organelle , biochemistry , chemistry , intracellular , biophysics , biology , receptor , food science , genetics
The incubation of human leukocytes with ascorbic acid increased chemotaxis of the cells. In addition, ascorbic acid promoted the assembly of intracellular polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) microtubules as assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Prior incubation of the PMN with colchicine blocked the effect of ascorbic acid on promoting microtubule assembly. Not only did ascorbic acid promote the assembly of microtubules in vivo, but it enhanced the assembly of bovine brain tubulin into microtubules in vitro as quantitated by a glass‐fiber filtration assay and by promotion of viscosity changes. The enhancement in leukocyte mobility by ascorbate at concentrations achievable in normal tissues correlates with its ability to assemble microtubule organelles.