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Membrane fluidity, capping of cell-surface antigens and immune response in mouse leukaemia cells
Abstract:
Transplantation of primary GRSL cells in the ascitic form led to a decrease in membrane microviscosity as measured by the fluorescence polarization technique. The transplanted GRSL ascitic cells showed a markedly lower ability to form caps with respect to both virus-related (MLr, GIX) and normal (H-2.7(G), H-2.8(K) and TL1.2) cell-surface antigens and their appropriate antisera in the indirect membrane immunofluorescence tests, than did primary GRSL cells, transplanted GRSL cells growing in solid form, and thymocytes, which all exhibited significantly higher membrane microviscosities. Transplantation of primary GRSL cells into syngeneic mice pre-irradiated with 400 rad did not lead to a fall in membrane microviscosity. It is suggested that the host immune response in intact mice leads to a selective survival of ascitic tumour cells with low membrane microviscosity.
Insights
Ascitic tumor cells exhibit reduced membrane microviscosity, impacting their ability to form caps with cell-surface antigens. This suggests a host immune response favors the survival of these low-viscosity tumor cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Cell membrane microviscosity is a critical factor influencing cell function and antigen presentation.
- Tumor microenvironments can select for cells with altered membrane properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between membrane microviscosity and the in vivo behavior of GRSL tumor cells.
- To determine if host immune responses influence the selection of tumor cells with specific membrane characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence polarization technique to measure membrane microviscosity.
- Indirect membrane immunofluorescence assays to assess antigen capping.
- Transplantation of GRSL cells (ascitic and solid forms) into syngeneic mice.
Main Results:
- Transplanted ascitic GRSL cells displayed significantly lower membrane microviscosity compared to primary GRSL cells, solid-form GRSL cells, and thymocytes.
- Ascitic GRSL cells showed a reduced ability to form caps with various cell-surface antigens.
- Irradiation of host mice did not induce a decrease in membrane microviscosity of transplanted GRSL cells.
Conclusions:
- The host immune response in intact mice appears to selectively favor the survival of ascitic tumor cells with low membrane microviscosity.
- Altered membrane microviscosity may play a role in the immune evasion strategies of metastatic tumor cells.