[Glycoprotein desorption from the surface of human peripheral blood lymphocytes after irradiation with short-wave UV...

The vital quantitative method of the cell coat (outer perimembraneous layer-OPML) identification with alcian blue (AB), which was earlier developed for the rat hepatoma cells and human erythrocytes, has been adopted for human blood lymphocytes. AB is bind by glycoproteins, glycolipids and acid mucopolysaccharides of the cell surface. Under experimental condition to be used each lymphocyte adsorbed 1.1 X 10(-10) g of AB. Irradiation with non-lethal doses of UV light induced a decrease in AB sorption by 8-13%. At the same time, the release of substances took place, some properties of which are similar to those of glycoproteins. A conclusion is made that the lymphocyte OPML was destroyed by UV rays and its components released into the extracellular space. The role of this phenomenon is discussed in terms of the therapeutic effect of UV light.