Differences in Cyclic AMP Changes after Stimulation by Prostaglandins and Isoproterenol in Lymphocyte Subpopulations

Various lymphocyte populations have been studied for their content in cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) before and after stimulation by isoproterenol and prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)). Basal cAMP levels vary among lymphocytes according to their origin: peripheral blood lymphocytes show high cAMP level while spleen and lymph node cells and thymocytes show lower levels. Thymocytes are extremely sensitive to the stimulating effects of isoproterenol and PGE(1), much more than spleen and lymph node or peripheral blood cells. Corticoresistant thymocytes are less sensitive to isoproterenol stimulation than normal thymocytes, but are significantly more sensitive than peripheral thymus-derived (T)-cells. Studies using bone-marrow-derived (B) or T cell depletion with anti-immunoglobulin-coated columns and antitheta serum (AthetaS) indicate that lymph node B cells synthesize more cAMP in the presence of isoproterenol than T cells. However, this difference between T and B cells has not been found in spleen cells.