Population doubling time, phosphatase activity, and hydrogen peroxide generation in Jurkat cells.

Differences in growth characteristics, phosphatase activity, and hydrogen peroxide generation in two clones of a T-cell leukemic line are described in this communication. Wurzburg cells had significantly shorter population doubling times compared with the parental Jurkat cells (16.6 +/- 2.0 h and 20.7 +/- 2.2 h, respectively; mean +/- SD, p < .0001, n = 20). In addition, total phosphatase activity was significantly decreased (p < .006) and hydrogen peroxide production was significantly increased (p < .002) in Wurzburg cells compared to Jurkat cells. That the cell line with the faster growth rate should have these latter two properties is entirely consistent with the positive effects of increased kinase activity and hydrogen peroxide on proliferative cellular responses in T cells. As originally described, Wurzburg cells were distinguished from Jurkat cells by their lack of CD45, a membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, and their positive response to hydrogen peroxide-stimulation of NF-kappaB activation. We propose that these two clones, with their distinguishing characteristics, can be used to advantage in experiments designed to study the effects of antioxidants on signaling pathways that control cell life and death.