Altered fatty acid membrane composition modifies lymphocyte localization in vivo

Abstract In the present paper, we report the results of a study on the in vivo localization of 51 Cr-labeled lymphocytes with an altered lipid bilayer. In vitro treatment of lymphocytes with fatty acids (arachidic and linolenic acids) modifies the relative composition of plasma membrane fatty acids. Phospholipids of the plasma membrane of lymphocytes incubated with arachidic acid show a preferential increase of fatty acids with chain length between C: 12 and C: 16. Cells incubated with linolenic acid show an increase percentage of fatty acids C: 16 to C:20 and the relative amount of the fatty acids with chain length superior to C:20 is higher in cells treated with linolenic than with arachidic acid. We have found that these alterations in plasma membrane fatty acid composition can modify the normal pattern of lymphocyte localization in vivo after iv transfer into syngeneic hosts. The possible role of factors such as cell to cell adhesion and/or fluidity of plasma membranes in the control of lymphocyte migration are discussed.