Cyclic AMP modulation of Fc receptor expression on a pre-B cell lymphoma

Cyclic AMP-elevating agents have been shown to increase the expression of Fc receptors on the Abelson virus-induced pre-B cell tumor ABE-8. Such agents included isoproterenol, PGE1, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine, and 8 BrcAMP. The positive inductive effect produced by these agents was inhibited by 8 BrcGMP and PGF2 alpha, which putatively elevate cyclic GMP levels. Other agents also shown to induce Fc receptor expression were LPS and certain batches of fetal calf sera. In contrast to the inductive effect produced by cyclic AMP elevating agents, 8 BrcGMP and PGF2 alpha were unable to reverse the increased Fc receptor expression produced by LPS and fetal calf sera. Thus, these latter agents may act via a qualitatively different mechanism in producing a change in phenotypic expression. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the use of tumor cells as a model system for studying the pharmacologic control of lymphocyte differentiation.