Changes in cell-surface expression of MHC and Thy-1.2 determinants following treatment with lipid modulating agents.

Treatment of normal mouse spleen cells with lipid fluidity modulators changes the expression of cell-surface H-2 determinants. BALB/c spleen cells treated for 1 to 2 hr with cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS) displayed reduced levels of all tested H-2 determinants (H-2L, H-2K, and H-2D) as evaluated by flow microfluorometry and increased membrane lipid packing density as determined by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence polarization. In contrast, decreasing membrane lipid packing density by phosphatidylcholine treatment decreased DPH fluorescence polarization and increased the expression of MHC determinants. The effects were selective in that expression of Thy-1.2 determinants was decreased by the latter treatment and not increased by CHS. The results are discussed in terms of passive modulation of antigenic expression.