Plasma membrane glycosphingolipids (GSLs) of the human lymphoblastoid cell-line BRI 8 and differences between the GSLs of BRI 8 cells and those of peripheral lymphocytes*1

Abstract Plasma membrane of the human lymphoblastoid cell-line BRI 8 contained about tenfold (expressed relative to per mg of protein) more hematoside and about three fold more GL2, GL3 and GL4, but less GL1 than the whole cell homogenate. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes contained small quantities of hematoside but were two to three times more rich in neutral GSLs than BRI 8 cells. GL3 was the major GSL of BRI 8 cells cultured in media supplemented with piglet or human serum. This GLS was not detected in human peripheral lymphocytes which contained mostly GL2. The results suggest that growth of human lymphocytes causes activation of enzymes which mediate the elongation of the GL2 oligosaccharide chain.