Differences and similarities in the sensitivity of lymphocytic and macrophage plasma membrane to deoxycholate.

Human tonsillar lymphocytes separated on nylon wool and rat macrophages showed different sensitivity to deoxycholate (DOC) treatment at a low (0.24 mM, 0.01%) concentration for 3 h. The T cell-enriched fraction was stimulated more readily by PHA whereas the B-cell enriched fraction lost its adherence and a decrease of chromium binding capacity was observed after the detergent treatment. Rat peritoneal macrophages under the same conditions lost their chromium label and lysozyme content, whereas their adherence and phagocytic capacity decreased dramatically without affecting their binding capacity. Higher sensitivity to the detergent was observed in peritoneal macrophages compared to tonsillar lymphocytes when various DOC concentrations were used. These findings proved that this low concentration DOC treatment, at least in macrophages, touched mainly the adhesive proteins and the dynamics of the membrane and not its receptor-associated properties.