Nucleoli in large (giant) bi- and multinucleate cells after apoptosis-inducing photodynamic treatment

The present experimental study was undertaken to provide information on nucleolar changes accompanying the apoptotic process in large or giant binucleate and multinucleate cells (LBMNCs). Such cells were present in a small but constant percentage in cultures of HL-60 cells. The apoptotic process was induced by photodynamic treatment (PDT) by means of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) as the precursor of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX and irradiation with broad spectrum blue light (BL). Nucleolar changes in LBMNCs were characterized by marked reduction or disappearance of silver stained particles representing AgNORs in nucleoli including the large ones. In addition, PDT also significantly reduced the number of nucleoli regardless of their size. These changes apparently reflected the decrease or cessation of nucleolar biosynthetic activities and resembled those which were previously observed in naturally maturing bone marrow megakaryocytes (Janoutova et al., 2001).