Alterations in the organization of the phospholipids in the lymphocyte plasma membrane may affect several lymphocyte functions. This proposal is designed to assess the role of phospholipid packing in the interactions of lymphocytes with reticuloendothelial cells and with the targets of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). Immature and activated lymphocytes isolated from tissues bind merocyanine 540 (MC540), a fluorescent lipophilic probe for loosely-packed lipids, whereas lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral circulation do not. Whether this difference in phospholipid packing is responsible for differences in the interactions of these lymphocytes with other cells will be tested in several ways. Using centrifugation to produce a controlled and reproducible force to distinguish adherent from nonadherent cells, the strength of the interactions of peripheral blood lymphocytes, thymocytes and splenocytes with macrophages and endothelial cells will be measured. Using flow cytometry, thymocytes and splenocytes stained with MC540 will be fractionated according to fluorescence intensity and the adherence properties of the fractions determined. The dependence of cellular interactions on lipid organization will be examined in vivo by following clearance from the circulation of reinfused lymphocytes which differ in phospholipid packing. Two biophysical approaches will be used to investigate the mechanisms by which altered phospholipid organization could affect adherence. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching will be employed to assess whether increases agglutinability of thymocytes with loosely-packed lipids results from increased mobility of membrane receptors. Fluorescence transfer methods will be used to determine whether the loose packing of lipids in activated lymphocytes is accompanied by local aggregation of a lymphocyte adhesion-related membrane protein, LFA-1. Finally, phospholipid organization in CTL and their targets will be assessed by MC540 staining to evaluate the potential role of this parameter in the resistance of CTL to self-lysis and in the efficiency of killing of target cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI026641-03
Application #
3140475
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC (64))
Project Start
1988-08-01
Project End
1993-07-31
Budget Start
1990-08-01
Budget End
1991-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802
Comfurius, P; Williamson, P; Smeets, E F et al. (1996) Reconstitution of phospholipid scramblase activity from human blood platelets. Biochemistry 35:7631-4
Williamson, P; Bevers, E M; Smeets, E F et al. (1995) Continuous analysis of the mechanism of activated transbilayer lipid movement in platelets. Biochemistry 34:10448-55
Smith, D M; Williamson, P L; Schlegel, R A (1993) Plasma membrane lipid packing and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1-dependent aggregation of lymphocytes. J Cell Physiol 156:182-8
Schlegel, R A; Stevens, M; Lumley-Sapanski, K et al. (1993) Altered lipid packing identifies apoptotic thymocytes. Immunol Lett 36:283-8
Antia, R; Schlegel, R A; Williamson, P (1992) Binding of perforin to membranes is sensitive to lipid spacing and not headgroup. Immunol Lett 32:153-7
Williamson, P; Kulick, A; Zachowski, A et al. (1992) Ca2+ induces transbilayer redistribution of all major phospholipids in human erythrocytes. Biochemistry 31:6355-60
Antia, R; Levin, B; Williamson, P (1991) A quantitative model suggests immune memory involves the colocalization of B and Th cells. J Theor Biol 153:371-84
Williamson, P; Puchulu, E; Westerman, M et al. (1990) Erythrocyte membrane abnormalities in sickle cell disease. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 12:523-8