Fluorescent probes to detect lymphocyte activation.

Fluorescent probes can monitor events in lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens and antigens. Early activation is associated with conformational changes in membrane macromolecules, and has been studied by measurement of fluorescence intensity or polarization of the membrane-localizing probes ANS, NPN, DPH and TMRITC. Subsequent changes in cytoplasmic macromolecules have been detected by altered fluorescence polarization of intracellular fluorescein. Altered metabolic activity in the activated lymphocyte is also revealed by fluorescent probes: the increased red fluorescence of lysosomes seen by AO staining, is attributable to altered lysosome membrane permeability. AO fluorescence has also detected early changes in the nuclear nucleoprotein complex. The later synthesis of new DNA is readily demonstrated by increased staining with the nuclear probes AO, ethidium bromide, propidium iodide, mithramycin and the Hoechst dyes. Adaptation of fluorescent probe analyses to the now rapidly developing flow microfluorimeters is providing rapid and sensitive assays of lymphocyte stimulation. Such methods will permit routine detection of lymphocyte response to particular antigens or mitogens, as well as identification of antigenic substances by their stimulation of known reactive lymphocytes. Last but not least, fluorescent probes are providing new understanding of the cellular events and regulatory mechanisms associated with lymphocyte activation.