[Effect of cholesterol deficiency on the membrane fluidity of Jurkat T lymphocytes].

The mechanism of cholesterol deficiency on inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes was investigated on cell membrane fluidity by using fluorescence polarization measurement, 3H-TdR incorporation test and flow cytometer analysis in Jurkat cells, in order to clarify the importance of cholesterol in maintaining the normal function of lymphocytes. The results showed that cell membrane fluidity was increased, cell proliferation was inhibited and blocked on G0/G1 phase in Jurkat cells after being cultured with lovastatin (an inhibitor of rate limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis) for 3 days. When the cells were treated with LDL. The changes could be partially buffered. These results suggest that the change of membrane fluidity may be caused by cholesterol deficiency on the proliferation of Jurkat cells.