Differences in Cyclic AMP Changes after Stimulation by Prostaglandins and Isoproterenol in Lymphocyte Subpopulations

Abstract

Various lymphocyte populations have been studied for their content in cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) before and after stimulation by isoproterenol and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁). Basal cAMP levels vary among lymphocytes according to their origin: peripheral blood lymphocytes show high cAMP level while spleen and lymph node cells and thymocytes show lower levels. Thymocytes are extremely sensitive to the stimulating effects of isoproterenol and PGE₁, much more than spleen and lymph node or peripheral blood cells. Corticoresistant thymocytes are less sensitive to isoproterenol stimulation than normal thymocytes, but are significantly more sensitive than peripheral thymus-derived (T)-cells. Studies using bone-marrow-derived (B) or T cell depletion with anti-immunoglobulin-coated columns and antitheta serum (AθS) indicate that lymph node B cells synthesize more cAMP in the presence of isoproterenol than T cells. However, this difference between T and B cells has not been found in spleen cells.