Use of fluorescent probes to monitor propranolol effects on the murine splenic lymphocyte

Modulation of lectin-stimulated lymphocyte agglutination and mitogenesis by estrogen metabolites: effects on early events of lymphocyte activation

Pharmacological doses of estrogens such as 17-beta estradiol (17-beta E) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) suppress cell-mediated immunity in vivo. In this report, we investigated the direct in vitro effects of 17-beta E and its major metabolites on lymphocyte proliferation in response to the T cell lectin phytohemagglutinin (PHA). PHA-induced lymphocyte agglutination, an early event indicative of active, cytoskeletal-dependent membrane alterations, was monitored in conjunction with blastogenesis. Without exception, the effects of individual estrogen metabolites on the PHA-induced agglutination occurring within minutes were accompanied, at every concentration of compound, by equivalent effects on the blastogenic response of activated cells measured after several days. This observation suggested a role for estrogens in modulating lymphocyte activation at the cell surface rather than through cytosolic receptor-mediated events. As suggested by previous studies with quinone metabolites of benzene, the catechol estrogen metabolite 2-OH estrone (2-OH E) was significantly more potent than the parent compound at suppressing lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Interactions of pyrethroids with phosphatidylcholine liposomal membranes

Interactions of several pyrethroids with membrane lipids in the form of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes have been studied using fluorescent membrane probes. Fluorescence anisotropy values and lifetimes (determined by phase-shift and demodulation techniques) of the fluorescent probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, were decreased in gel phase liposomes by pyrethroids at concentrations on the order of 10 microM. The pyrethroids containing a cyano substituent were also observed to cause collisional quenching of diphenylhexatriene fluorescence. Pyrethroids differed in their effectiveness at lowering the phase transition temperature of DPPC, and in their ability to broaden the temperature range of this transition. The fluorescence intensity of DPPC-incorporated chlorophyll a was used to monitor the pretransition of DPPC and the lateral diffusion of a membrane component located in the polar headgroup region. Permethrin did not affect chlorophyll a fluorescence intensity at any temperature. It may be concluded from these results that pyrethroids are preferentially located in the interior hydrophobic regions of the lipid bilayer, and that these compounds can disorder hydrocarbon packing in the bilayer core. However, polar headgroups were not disordered, and diffusion of membrane components in the polar headgroup region was not altered.

Effect of tricyclic antidepressant drugs on lymphocyte membrane structure

Tricyclic antidepressant-induced perturbations of murine splenic lymphocyte membranes and cell surface concanavalin A receptor mobility have been investigated using the fluorescent probes diphenylhexatriene and fluorescein-conjugated concanavalin A. Results of these studies illustrate the possible relationship between tricyclic antidepressant-induced membrane perturbations and tricyclic antidepressant-induced suppression of the normal murine lymphocyte mitogen response. Tricyclic antidepressant effects on murine splenic lymphocyte membranes are dose-, time- and temperature- dependent. Murine lymphocyte concanavalin A cell surface receptor mobility is not apparently altered by the tricyclic antidepressants.