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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI109531

Regulation of Sodium and Potassium Transport in Phytohemagglutinin-Stimulated Human Blood Lymphocytes

George B. Segel, William Simon, and Marshall A. Lichtman

Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Biomathematics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Find articles by Segel, G. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Biomathematics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Find articles by Simon, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Biomathematics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Department of Radiation Biology and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642

Find articles by Lichtman, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published September 1, 1979 - More info

Published in Volume 64, Issue 3 on September 1, 1979
J Clin Invest. 1979;64(3):834–841. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI109531.
© 1979 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published September 1, 1979 - Version history
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Abstract

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A treatment of lymphocytes causes an increase in membrane permeability so that the leak rates of Na and K increase 1.5- to 2-fold. Active Na and K transport increase proportionately in response to the increased membrane permeability. We have examined the role of lymphocyte Na concentration in sustaining the increased Na and K transport observed after PHA treatment. Cell Na concentration increases from 14.8 to 20.5 mmol/liter cell water in PHA-treated lymphocytes (P < 0.001). Four lines of evidence suggest that the 5-6 mmol/liter cell water increase in lymphocyte Na accounts for the increase in active Na and K transport in mitogen-treated lymphocytes. First, PHA does not increase directly the maximal Na, K-ATPase activity of isolated lymphocyte membrane vesicles. Second, when the Na concentration is increased by 6 mmol/liter cell water in unstimulated lymphocytes, Na and K transport increase nearly twofold. Third, the cell Na concentration (15 mmol/liter cell water) is near the Km for Na activation of the Na, K-ATPase in lymphocyte membranes. The ATPase activity thus, is capable of increasing as the cell Na rises above normal. Fourth, if lymphocytes are incubated in a medium containing a low Na concentration, K transport does not maintain the internal K concentration and the fall in cell K is accentuated in PHA-treated lymphocytes. These studies indicate that the adaptive acceleration of Na and K transport in mitogen-treated lymphocytes is mediated by a small increase in cell Na.

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