Membrane blebbing in cancer cells treated with various apoptotic inducers.

Abstract

The dynamics of cell morphology, in particular membrane blebbing, was studied after induction of apoptosis by etoposide or camptothecin in four human stabilized cell lines (Hep2, Bowes, HT-29 and HL-60). Time lapse videomicroscopy and F-actin staining revealed various dynamic parameters of this process including its duration, maximal extent, stages and final endpoints in individual cells. Although generally occurring in predictable patterns, our results indicate a relatively significant variability both in appearance and temporal organization of blebbing not only between different cell lines but also within them.