concanavalin-a and bis(1-3-diethylthiobarbiturate)trimethineoxonol

1. The role of ion channels in the mitogenic response of rat thymic lymphocytes to concanavalin A (ConA) was studied using single-channel patch-clamp recordings and measurements of membrane potential with the fluorescent probe bis-oxonol. 2. ConA (20 micrograms ml-1) evoked a rapid membrane hyperpolarization; Indo-1 measurements indicated a concurrent increase in [Ca2+]i. The hyperpolarization was blocked by cytoplasmic loading with the Ca2+ buffer BAPTA (bis(O-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid), or charybdotoxin, a component of scorpion venom known to block K+ channels in lymphocytes. 3. Cell-attached patch-clamp recordings showed that both ConA and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin activated channels with high selectivity for K+. Two conductance levels were observed -6-7 pS and 17-18 pS-measured as inward chord conductance at 60 mV from reversal potential (Erev) with 140 mM-KCl in the pipette. The current-voltage relationship for the larger channel displayed inward rectification and channel open probability was weakly dependent upon membrane potential. 4. These experiments provide the first direct evidence for mitogen-activated Ca(2+)-gated K+ channels (IK(Ca)) in lymphocytes. This conductance is relatively inactive in unstimulated rat thymocytes but following the intracellular Ca2+ rises induced by ConA, IK(Ca) channels are activated and produce a significant hyperpolarization of the cell potential.

Topics: Animals; Calcium; Calcium Channel Blockers; Charybdotoxin; Concanavalin A; Fluorescent Dyes; Indoles; Ionomycin; Male; Membrane Potentials; Potassium Channels; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Scorpion Venoms; Stimulation, Chemical; T-Lymphocytes; Thiobarbiturates

The effect of the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A on the membrane potential of murine lymphocytes was investigated by observing the fluorescence of cells stained with carbocyanine and oxonol dyes. We describe a rapid and reliable method for detecting lectin-induced membrane potential changes in individual cells by flow cytometric analysis of oxonol fluorescence. By 10 min after addition of lectin to suspensions of isolated cells from lymph node, 7-15% of the cells have responded by releasing oxonol dye, indicating a membrane hyperpolarization. The dose onset of this response is similar to that for mitogenesis, which was assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation. The effect is abolished by alpha-methyl mannoside (100mM), which prevents concanavalin A from binding to the cells, but not by fucose (100mM). When cells are treated with lectin in medium from which Ca2+ has been omitted or to which quinine (0.5mM) has been added, a membrane depolarization is observed. Since these are conditions under which activation of plasma membrane Ca2+-dependent K+ channels is prevented, these findings support the view that the early hyperpolarization of these cells is brought about by an increase in intracellular free [Ca2+].

Topics: Animals; Barbiturates; Calcium; Carbocyanines; Concanavalin A; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Fucose; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Membrane Potentials; Methylmannosides; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Thiobarbiturates