Comparison of lipid composition and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence polarization measurements of hairy cells with monocytes and lymphocytes from normal subjects and patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Liebes, L.F.; Pelle, E.; Zucker-Franklin, D.; Silber, R.
Cancer Research 41(10): 4050-4056
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 7285012 Document Number: 174632
The lipid composition and fluorescence polarization properties of hairy cells were compared with those of monocytes and lymphocytes from normal subjects and of lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For hairy cells the cholesterol content was 4.66 .+-. 1.49 (SD) .mu.mol/109 cells and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was 0.60 .+-. 0.09. These were significantly higher than the values of normal lymphocytes, (cholesterol content, 2.75 .+-. 0.65 .mu.mol; cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, 0.50 .+-. 0.07) or of chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes (cholesterol content, 1.76 .+-. 0.43 .mu.mol; cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, 0.44 .+-. 0.07). Normal monocyte values (cholesterol content, 5.81 .+-. 2.08 .mu.mol; cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, 0.59 .+-. 0.06) were similar to those of hairy cells. Using the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, the fluorescence polarization value at 25.degree. C for hairy cells was 0.302 compared to the value of 0.259 obtained with chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes. Intermediate values (0.294) were obtained with normal lymphocytes and monocytes. Fluorescence polarization values were higher in hairy cell membranes than in chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocyte membranes indicating a low fluidity in the former cell, compatible with their higher cholesterol content and cholesterol/phospholipid ratio. Hairy cells and chronic lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes, 2 neoplastic cells, differ markedly in membrane fluidity; a high membrane fluidity does not necessarily occur in neoplasia.