Phosphatidylcholine participates in the interaction between macrophages and lymphocytes

The role of phosphatidylcholine molecules as mediator for the control of lymphocyte proliferation by macrophages was investigated. Phosphatidylcholine added to the culture medium inhibited the concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The potency of this effect was dependent on the presence of arachidonic acid in the phosphatidylcholine molecules. The phosphatidylcholine transfer from macrophages to lymphocytes was then investigated. Macrophages incorporated phosphatidylcholine at a much higher rate than lymphocytes and exported phosphatidylcholine to the culture medium. When cocultured, a significant amount of phosphatidylcholine incorporated by macrophages was transferred to lymphocytes. To examine the possible physiological importance of the transfer process, the lymphocyte proliferation was measured in coculture conditions. Macrophages were treated with phosphatidylcholine and washed, and then these cells were cocultured with concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes. The effect observed in coculture was an inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation, which was also dependent on the molecular species of the phosphatidylcholine. Therefore, phosphatidylcholine may act as a mediator of the macrophage effect on lymphocyte proliferation.