Human lymphocyte capping and the effect of lanthanum in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Capping was studied in lymphocytes obtained from controls and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Before the induction of capping by anti-Ig antibodies the cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of calcium and lanthanum. It was found that the presence or absence of extracellular calcium had no effect. Lanthanum, which blocks active calcium extrusion, altered the proportion of capping in both controls and Duchenne lymphocytes. These observations are discussed in relation to the possible involvement of free intracellular calcium in normal controls and patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.