Evidence That Expression of Asialo-G(M1) May Be Associated With Cell Activation. Correlation of Asialo-GM(M1) Expression With Increased Total Cellular RNA and Protein Content in Normal Thymocyte and Spleen Cell Populations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-1987
Description
The question of the biologic significance of asialoG(M1) (aG(M1) expression by a limited number of cells including natural killer cells has been raised by the recent demonstrations that aG(M1) is expressed by activated macrophages and activated T cells as well as the proliferating thymoblast and functionally mature subpopulations of thyumus. The current report demonstrates that the expression of aG(M1) on aG(M1)-negative lymphocytes can be induced by stimulation with mitogens under activating conditions. In addition, activation of the aG(M1)-negative tumor lines EL-4/F and P388D1/B1 under conditions that result in interleukin 2 or interleukin 1 production, respectively, also result in a significant increase in aG(M1) expression by the tumor cell lines. Expression of aG(M1) therefore appears to be associated with events occurring as a prelude to or during activation of effector function. Since the aG(M1)-negative cells do display sialylated versions of aG(M1) which can be converted by neuraminidase treatment into serologically recognizable aG(M1), it is suggested that the expression of aG(M1) might reflect a change in the level of glycolipid sialylation rather than a change in membrane lipid composition per se. The small percentage of lymphocytes in normal, nonstimulted spleen and thymus populations which express significant levels of aG(M1) were sorted and analyzed for total cellular protein and RNA. Increases in RNA synthesis and in total cellular protein and RNA above basal levels of resting lymphocytes are considered indicators of a G0→G1 transition. The aG(M1)-positive populations displayed a larger mean population size (as indicated both by higher forward light scatter and by higher total cellular protein content), and a higher mean population RNA content than the aG(M1)-negative populations. These data are discussed in the context of the hypothesis that the expression of aG(M1) may be associated with early events in the activation of resting cells which prepare the cells for subsequent induction of effector function.
Citation Information
Stout, R. D.; Schwarting, G. A.; and Suttles, J.. 1987. Evidence That Expression of Asialo-G(M1) May Be Associated With Cell Activation. Correlation of Asialo-GM(M1) Expression With Increased Total Cellular RNA and Protein Content in Normal Thymocyte and Spleen Cell Populations. Journal of Immunology. Vol.139(7). 2123-2129. PMID: 2443562 ISSN: 0022-1767