Enhancement of early human E rosette formation by cholinergic stimuli.

The effects of the cholinergic stimuli carbamylcholine (carbachol) and dibutyrl cyclic guanosine monophosphate (DBCGMP) were determined on both 'early' and 'total' E rosette formation. Ficoll-Hypaque-separated lymphocytes were preincubated with either carbachol or DBCGMP over a 10(-3) M to 10(-13) M dose range. Both agents significantly enhanced 'early', but not 'total' E rosette formation. Peak enhancement above control values occurred at 10(-7) M (72%) and 10(-9) M (69%) for carbachol and 10(-5) M (70%) and 10(-7) M (70%) for DBCGMP. Kinetic studies showed a rapid onset of enhancement (2.5 min) for carbachol, whereas DBCGMP required 15 min for significant enhancement to occur. The muscurinic nature of carbachol enhancement of E rosettes was demonstrated. Atropine at 10(-7) M completely abolished the carbachol effect while showing little inhibition of the DBCGMP effect on rosette formation. These studies indicate that the cholinergic stimuli carbachl and DBCGMP significantly enhance the 'early' E rosette former in man. Human T lymphocytes appear to have functional cholinergic receptors that can be blocked by the muscurinic antagonist atropine. The role of the cyclic nucleotides and their stimulants on the immune system is incompletely understood, but it would appear that they are extremely important in the differentiation and function of the T lymphocyte. E rosette formation may be a useful model in man for studying the effects of the cyclic nucleotides on the human T lymphocyte.