Is ecto-5'-nucleotidase essential for stimulation of human lymphocytes? Evidence against a role of the enzyme as mitogenic lectin receptor.

We studied with specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against human ecto-5'-nucleotidase whether the enzyme, located on the surface of human peripheral lymphocytes, could function as a mitogenic receptor for the lectins PHA, Con A and PWM. Strong, but unspecific inhibitory effects on lymphocyte stimulation are observed with unfractionated antisera and ascitic fluids. However, when purified IgG from these sources is used, no such effects are found, while at the same time, complete inhibition of ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity is maintained. It is concluded that the enzyme does not act as a mitogenic receptor for the lectins. When purine de novo synthesis of the lymphocytes is blocked by aminopterin and purine nucleotides in the extracellular medium are given as the only purine source, lymphocyte stimulation becomes dependent on the enzymatic activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase. This is independent of the lectin used. Under these conditions, enzyme activity on the 20-30% 5'-nucleotidase-positive cells is necessary and is sufficient to support the stimulation of the whole culture. In these cultures, anti-5'-nucleotidase-IgG completely depresses cell proliferation, showing clearly that this is the only enzyme on the lymphocyte surface that is capable of degrading extracellular nucleotides.