Studies on the mechanism of lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis. V. The use of cytochalasins A and B to dissociate glucose transport from the lytic event.

The lysis of DBA/2 mastocytoma cells (P815) by alloimmune C57BL/6 thymus-derived lymphocytes was inhibited by cytochalasin A (CA) and cytochalasin B (CB). Although CB prevented incorporation of glucose into lymphocytes, the effector cell susceptibility to the drug was independent of the hexose content of the culture medium. Indeed, cytolysis occurred in the absence of exogenous hexose. Futhermore CA which, like CB, inhibited the adsorption of effector spleen cell populations onto homologous allogeneic monolyers and prevented the migratory movement of lymphoid cells did so without affecting incorporation of glucose into lymphocytes. These findings suggest that the inhibition of cytolysis by CA and CB is mediated by common inhibitory effects on membrane mobility rather than by affecting glucose uptake.