Anchorage and lymphocyte function. Antibodies as adhesion and spreading factors for human T lymphocytes

When attached to a solid surface coated with protein A various antibodies reacting with lymphocyte membrane antigens (anti-beta 2m, OKT3, OKT8, Leu2, 3, 4 and certain patient sera) catalyse the formation of peripheral lamellar activity, i.e. an active spreading process in human T lymphocytes. In contrast, binding only of the same antibodies to the cells or allowing antibody-coated cells to settle and bind to a protein A-coated surface did not induce spreading although the number of cells attached to the solid surface was virtually the same as in the former case. The peripheral lamellar activity markedly facilitated short-range lymphocyte interactions and appeared to constitute the region of the lymphocyte that actively contacts other cells. These results show that antibodies can act as spreading factors, and indicate that this function is critically dependent on the presentation of the inducing ligand. The asymmetry in the induction of active cell edges may influence functional lymphocyte interactions with environmental surfaces.