The influence of the membrane sodium pump activity on the ability of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to form early rosettes with SRBC.

The influence of changes of the cation-transporting activity of the membrane Na,K ATP-ase of human peripheral blood lymphocytes on their ability to form 'early' and 'late' rosettes with SRBC was investigated. It was shown that inhibition of the Na,K ATP-ase-dependent cation transport through the lymphocyte membrane by means of incubation of the cells with various specific inhibitors of the enzyme (ouabain, vanadate) or depletion of the magnesium cations from the incubation medium caused the rise in the percentage of early rosettes, having no influence on the late E rosette percentage. The possible explanation of the observed phenomena is discussed with regard to (ion transport-dependent) electrical forces present at the surface of resting and activated lymphocytes.