Syncytium 571538 208097132 2008-04-25T12:52:30Z 128.240.229.3 /* Viral Infection */ {{Cleanup|date=December 2006}} In [[biology]], a '''syncytium''' (''plural'' '''''syncytia''''') is a large cell-like structure filled with [[cytoplasm]] containing many [[cell nucleus|nuclei]]. == Formation == A syncytium can form in two ways. Many insects such as the model organism <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> lay eggs that initially develop as syncytial blastoderms, i.e early on the [[embryo]]s exhibit incomplete [[cell (biology)|cell]] division. In particular, the nuclei undergo S-phase (they replicate their [[DNA]]) and sister chromatids get pulled apart and re-assembled into nuclei containing full sets of homologous chromosomes, but [[cytokinesis]] is absent. Thus, the nuclei multiply in a common cytoplasmic space of the [[zygote]]. Large [[skeletal muscle]] fibers form by the fusion of thousands of myocytes. A syncytium occurs most simply when a cell divides without undergoing cytokinesis. This is most common in [[cancer cells]] because they are non-functional. == Embryology == The early embryo syncytium of invertebrates such as ''[[Drosophila melanogaster|Drosophila]]'' is important for syncytial specification of cell differentiation. The egg cell cytoplasm contains localized [[mRNA]] molecules such as those that encode the [[transcription factors]] [[Morphogenesis|Bicoid]] and Nanos. Bicoid protein is expressed in a gradient that extends from the anterior end of the early embryo while Nanos protein is concentrated at the posterior end (antero-posterior axis). At first, the nuclei of the early embryo rapidly and synchronously divide in the syncytial blastoderm and then migrate through the cytoplasm and position themselves in a monolayer around the periphery, leaving only a small number of nuclei in the center of the egg, which will become yolk nuclei. The position of the nuclei along the embryonic axes determines the relative exposure of different amounts of Bicoid, Nanos, and other [[morphogens]]. Those nuclei with more Bicoid will activate genes that promote differentiation of cells into head and thorax structures. Nuclei exposed to more Nanos will activate genes responsible for differentiation of posterior regions, such as the abdomen and [[germ cells]]. The same principles hold true for the specification of the dorso-ventral axis – higher concentration of nuclear Dorsal protein on the ventral side of the egg specify the ventral fate, whereas absence thereof allows dorsal fates. After the nuclei are positioned in a monolayer underneath the egg membrane, the membrane begins to slowly invaginate, thus separating the nuclei into cellular compartments; during this period, the egg is called a cellular blastoderm. The pole cells – the germline anlage – are the first cells to separate fully. == Skeletal Muscle == The syncytium of skeletal muscle is important because it allows rapid coordinated contraction of muscles along their entire length. [[Action potential]]s propagate along the surface of the muscle fiber from the point of [[synapse|synaptic]] contact with a [[motorneuron]]. The [[multinucleated]] (syncytium) arrangement of skeletal muscle is important in pathologic states such as [[myopathy]], where focal necrosis (death) of a portion of a skeletal muscle cell does not result in necrosis (death) of the adjacent sections of that same skeletal muscle cell (since those adjacent sections have their own nuclear material). Thus, [[myopathy]] is usually associated with such "segmental necrosis", but with some of the surviving segments being functionally cut off from their nerve supply via loss of continuity with the [[neuromuscular junction]]. == Placental == Another important vertebrate syncytium is in the [[placenta]] of placental mammals. Embryo-derived cells that form the interface with the maternal blood stream fuse together to form a multi-nucleated barrier. This is probably important in order to limit the exchange of migratory cells between the developing embryo and the body of the mother, as some [[White blood cell|blood cells]] are specialized to be able to insert themselves between adjacent [[epithelium|epithelial]] cells. The syncytial epithelium of the placenta does not provide such an access path from the maternal circulation into the embryo. == Viral Infection == [[Image:CPE syncytium.jpg|thumb|250px|Syncytium caused by [[Herpes simplex|HSV-1]] infection in [[Vero cells]] ]] Syncytia can also form when cells are infected with certain types of [[virus]] such as [[H.I.V.]] and [[paramyxovirus]]es. During infection, viral fusion [[protein]]s used by the virus to [[viral entry|enter]] the cell are transported to the cell surface where they can cause the host [[cell membrane]] to fuse with neighbouring cells. In [[HIV]] infection, the [[virus]] can infect a [[T-helper]] [[lymphocyte]]. Then, the [[leukocyte]] begins to display surface [[HIV]] [[glycoprotein]]s, which are [[antigen]]ic. Normally, a [[T-cytotoxic]] [[lymphocyte]] will immediately come to "inject" [[lymphotoxin]]s that will kill the infected [[T-helper]], such as [[perforin]] or [[granzyme]]. However, if there are nearby [[T-helper]] cells, the [[gp41]] [[HIV]] receptors displayed on the surface of the [[T-helper]] will bind to other similar [[lymphocyte]]s. This makes dozens of [[T-helper]]s fuse [[cell membrane]]s into a giant, nonfunctional syncytium, which causes the [[HIV]] [[virus]] to kill many [[T-helper]]s by infecting only one. ==See also== * [[Syncytiotrophoblast]] * [[Atrial syncytium]] [[Category:Histology]] [[de:Synzytium]] [[fr:Syncytium]] [[ja:合胞体]] [[pl:Syncytium]] [[ro:Sinciţiu]]