title: AL 721: a potent membrane modulating agent of human T-lymphocytes?
abstract: This report deals with AL 721, a reputedly potent membrane fluidizing agent. A correlation has been sought between the effects of AL 721 on membrane fluidity and mitogen responsiveness of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The AL 721-induced increase in membrane "fluidity", as measured by fluorescence polarisation with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, was found to be an artefact arising from lipid uptake by monocytes. Mitogen responses were enhanced by inclusion of AL 721 in the serum-free culture medium. However, this observation is more likely explained by provision of lymphocytes with nutritional lipids required for optimal growth in vitro, than altered responsiveness of "fluidized" lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for General and Experimental Pathology, Medical School, University of Innsbruck.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Winter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000494:pharmacology; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005989:Glycerides; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; C046637:neutral lipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine drug combination