Spontaneous Membrane Transfer Through Homotypic Synapses Between Lymphoma Cells

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 171; no. 5; pp. 2517 - 2523
• Main Authors: Poupot, Mary, Fournie, Jean-Jacques
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.09.2003; Publisher : Baltimore : Williams & Wilkins, c1950-. Latest Publisher : Bethesda, MD : American Association of Immunologists
• Subjects: Biological Transport, Active; Biological Transport, Active - immunology; Burkitt Lymphoma; Burkitt Lymphoma - immunology; Burkitt Lymphoma - metabolism; Burkitt Lymphoma - pathology; Cell Communication; Cell Communication - immunology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane; Cell Membrane - immunology; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Membrane - pathology; Cytosol; Cytosol - immunology; Cytosol - metabolism; Cytosol - pathology; Fluorescent Dyes; Fluorescent Dyes - metabolism; Hematology; Human health and pathology; Humans; Intercellular Junctions; Intercellular Junctions - immunology; Intercellular Junctions - metabolism; Intercellular Junctions - pathology; Life Sciences; Lymphoma, B-Cell; Lymphoma, B-Cell - immunology; Lymphoma, B-Cell - metabolism; Lymphoma, B-Cell - pathology; Organic Chemicals; Organic Chemicals - metabolism; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell - metabolism; Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell - physiology; Rhodamines; Rhodamines - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.171.5.2517

Formation of an immunological synapse by T, B, or NK cells is associated with an intercellular transfer of some membrane fragments from their respective target cells. This capture is thought to require effector cell activation by surface recognition of stimulatory ligand(s). However, spontaneous synaptic transfers between homotypic lymphoid cells has never been described. In this study, we show that without adding Ag, resting healthy lymphoid cells and several tumor cell lines are inactive. Conversely, however, some leukemia cell lines including the Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi continuously uptake patches of autologous cell membranes. This intercellular transfer does not involve cytosol molecules or exosomes, but requires cell contact. In homotypic Daudi cell conjugates, this occurs through immunological synapses, involves constitutive protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase activity and strongly increases upon B cell receptor activation. Thus, spontaneous homosynaptic transfer may reflect the hitherto unsuspected autoreactivity of some leukemia cell lines.