Cytoplasmic requirements for the radio-induced modulation of IgG receptors on B-cells.

The effect of X-ray irradiation on IgG membrane receptors of B murine lymphocytes was studied. Cells were obtained from peripheral lymph nodes of RK mice and teased in Hank's solution. The cells were irradiated or kept as control samples, incubated at 37 degrees C, with or without drugs with known biochemical action at metabolic or structural levels, and labelled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-IgG antisera. The results show that X-ray irradiation results in a modulation of IgG receptor molecules on B-cells. The disappearance phase which takes only 10 min, is temperature dependent, and is prevented with metabolic inhibitors, microtubular disruptors, db-cAMP and local anesthetics. The re-appearance phase is also temperature dependent but apparently does not have either energy or cytoskeleton participation. The phenomenon is interpreted as partial and transient internalization of IgG molecules in the membrane.