Human T lymphocyte "E" rosette function. I. A process modulated by intracellular cyclic AMP.

The capacity of normal human T lymphocytes to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells can be inhibited by drugs or agents which induce elevations in intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. The effect is early in the presence of agents which elicit rapid elevations in intracellular cyclic AMP (isoproterenol, aminophylline) and occurs later in the presence of cholera toxin which induces a dalayed increase in endogenous cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP is inhibitory, and the effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and the adenyl cyclase stimulators are potentiated by inhibition of phosphodiesterase. These data provide substantial evidence that elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP diminishes E rosette function of lymphocytes.