Membrane permeability changes induce hyperpolarization in transformed lymphoid cells under high-density culture conditions.
BACKGROUND
Membrane potential changes in cells from the human lymphoid B cell line, JY, evoked by increasing cell density in culture were investigated, as data published on other cell types are controversial. An attempt was also made to clear the underlying mechanism.


METHODS
Nonadherent JY cells were isolated from high-density plateau-phase cultures (type A cells), medium-density log-phase cultures (type B cells), and low-density lag-phase cultures (type C cells). They were analyzed for transmembrane potential, intracellular free concentration of potassium and sodium, membrane permeability for monovalent cations, cell cycle distribution by measuring DNA content, and glucose uptake.


RESULTS
C type cells proved to be relatively depolarized (-41 +/- 3 mV) and cells obtained from the highest density cultures hyperpolarized (-60 +/- 3 mV). Intracellular concentrations ([K](i) = 92-97 mM and [Na](i) = 34-35 mM) were almost identical for each type of cell. The sodium/potassium permeability constant ratio in the A and C type of cells was 0.047 and 0.094, respectively. High-density culture conditions resulted in a pronounced G(1)-phase arrest.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in the membrane potential values induced by high-density culture conditions were maintained by changes in the membrane permeability for the monovalent cations.
Márián
T
T
Positron Emission Tomography Centre, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Balkay
L
L
Krasznai
Z
Z
Trón
L
L
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002414:Cations, Monovalent / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium