Research progress on cytoplasmic vacuolization originated from endosome and lysosome

Cells respond to bacterial or viral infection and the stimuli of chemical agents from the environment in various ways.In certain circumstances, cells form massive cytoplasmic vacuoles, termed cytoplasmic vacuolization.Cytoplasmic vacuoles originated from endosomes or lysosome, designated in this review as the endo-lysosomal vacuoles, have been observed in mammalian cells exposing to various stimuli such as bacteria, viruses, and low-molecular-weight chemical compounds.Endo-lysosomal vacuolization sometimes accompanies cell death, but the molecular mechanism of vacuolization and its interaction with cell death remain unclear.Here we review the research progress about endo-lysosomal vacuolization in order to have a better insight into the molecular mechanisms and its effect on the interaction between the cell and its environment. Key words: Endosome; Lysosome; Cytoplasmic vacuolization