Inhibition of Phytohaemagglutinin-induced Autorosette Formation of Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes by RNA or Protein Synthesis Inhibitor

The induction of autorosette forming cells (ARFC) with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was examined. After 24 h of incubation with PHA, the level of ARFC in PBL was markedly increased but subsequently decreased to about one-third of the peak level at 96 h of culture. When PBL were pre-treated with actinomycin D, or cultured with puromycin, the induction of ARFC was completely blocked. Pre-treatment of PBL with mitomycin C (MMC) had no effect on induction of ARFC, whereas DNA synthesis was completely blocked. These data indicate that the generation of autologous red blood cell receptors is a relatively early event in PHA activated PBL, and that it is independent of DNA synthesis but dependent on RNA and protein synthesis.