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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes
Published on: October 30, 2016
Membrane dielectric responses of human T-lymphocytes following mitogenic stimulation
Y Huang1, X B Wang, P R Gascoyne
1Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.ying@solace.mdacc.tmc.edu
Insights
Human T-lymphocytes stimulated to divide show changes in membrane capacitance and electrical properties. These alterations correlate with cell cycle progression, reflecting dynamic changes in the cell plasma membrane during division.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Immunology
Background:
- Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes typically reside in the G0 phase.
- Cell division cycle involves distinct phases (G0, S, G2/M) with varying cellular characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between T-lymphocyte cell cycle progression and their dielectric properties.
- To determine how cell division affects membrane capacitance, conductivity, and permittivity.
Main Methods:
- Human T-lymphocytes were stimulated using phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and interleukin-2 (IL-2).
- Cell cycle distribution was analyzed using flow cytometry.
- Dielectric properties (membrane capacitance, interior conductivity, permittivity) were measured using electrorotation.
- Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine cell membrane morphology.
Main Results:
- Membrane specific capacitance increased significantly between 24 and 48 hours post-stimulation, coinciding with increased S and G2/M phase populations.
- Cell interior electrical conductivity decreased after stimulation, while permittivity remained largely unchanged.
- Scanning electron microscopy revealed increased cell membrane complexity post-stimulation.
Conclusions:
- A correlation exists between membrane capacitance and T-lymphocyte cell cycle phases.
- Changes in membrane capacitance are linked to alterations in cell surface structures and lipid accumulation during cell division.
- Dielectric property measurements offer insights into dynamic changes in the cell plasma membrane during cell division.
Abstract:
Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, normally resting at the G0 phase, were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) to induce the cell division cycle. The cells were examined at 24-h intervals for up to 96 h by flow cytometry to determine cell cycle distributions and by electrorotation to determine dielectric properties. The average membrane specific capacitance was found to vary from 12 (+/-1.5) mF/m2 prior to stimulation to 10 (+/-1.5) and 16 (+/-3.5) mF/m2 at 24 and 48 h after stimulation, respectively, and to remain unchanged up to 96 h after stimulation. Scanning electron microscopy studies of the cells revealed an increased complexity in cell membrane morphology following stimulation, suggesting that the observed change in the membrane capacitance was dominated by the alteration of cell surface structures. The average electrical conductivity of the cell interior decreased from approximately 1.1 S/m prior to stimulation to approximately 0.8 S/m at 24 h after stimulation and showed little change thereafter. The average dielectric permittivity of the cell interior remained almost unchanged throughout the course of the cell stimulation. The percentage of T-lymphocytes in the S and G2/M phases increased from approximately 4% prior to stimulation to approximately 11 and approximately 34% at 24 and 48 h after stimulation, respectively. The large change in membrane specific capacitance between the 24 and 48 h time period coincided with the large alteration in the cell cycle distribution where the S and G2/M populations increased by approximately 23%. These data, together with an analysis of the variation of the membrane capacitance during the cell cycle based on the cell cycle-dependent membrane lipid accumulation, show that there is a correlation between membrane capacitance and cell cycle phases that reflects alterations in the cell plasma membrane.
