Radiosensitivity of defined populations of lymphocytes. VI. Functional, structural, and biochemical consequences of in vitro irradiation.

Single cell suspensions of BALB/c thymocytes (T cells) and nu/nu spleen cells (B cells) were exposed to 0, 50, and 500 rads and examined for topological abnormalities and alterations in surface glycoproteins and capacity to traffic normally upon transfer to syngeneic recipients. The results show that irradiated lymphocytes from both sources undergo extensive topological alterations which become more pronounced with the passage of time and which appear to precede the loss of cell viability. Viable T and B cells irradiated in vitro also fail to recirculate normally and accumulate in abnormal proportions in the spleen at the expense of the lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Similarly, after a 2-hr incubation in saline at room temperature, irradiation of both T and B cells resulted in alterations in extractable surface glycoproteins. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that alterations in the recirculation of irradiated lymphocytes are associated with alterations in the plasma membrane.