In vitro modulation of leucocyte-function-associated antigen-1 expression on two leukemic cell lines

Leukocyte-function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression on two widespread tumor cell lines: K562 (an erythroleukemia) and MOLT-4 (a T leukemia), was investigated using two monoclonal antibodies specific for the alpha chain of this surface antigen, and flow cytometry analysis. When K562 cells are in the exponential phase of growth, they display very low levels of LFA-1. By contrast, cells from the plateau phase exhibit a strong labelling, which disappears rapidly when they are allowed to resume division by changing the culture medium. Using the same experimental conditions, we failed to detect any LFA-1 expression on MOLT-4 cells. However, after stimulation of these cells by phorbol myristate acetate, we observed a significant labelling, which occurred within 2 days of treatment. The LFA-1 expression disappears progressively after removal of the phorbol ester. From these results it may be concluded that (a) LFA-1 expression can vary considerably according to the culture conditions, (b) the expression of this antigen on the surface of non-expressing variants can be induced by phorbol ester, and (c) in both cases, the change in expression can be reversed completely by replacing the culture medium or by removing phorbol myristate acetate from it.