Characterization of Collagen Binding Lymphocyte Membrane Molecules

Blood lymphocytes can adhere to two-dimensional collagen substrata. The lymphocyte plasma membrane contains 130 and 55 kd components with collagen-bindings capacity as well as high molecular weight collagen binding component (>200 kd) pointing to the possibility that these molecules mediate lymphocyte adhesion to collagen. The 55 kd and the high molecular weight component also react with anti-fibronectin antibodies. Both the 130 kd and the 55 kd collagen binding components are present in lymphoid cell lines of T cell origin but the intensity of their expression varies. Under reducing conditions the 130 kd collagen binding components unchanged whereas the 55 kd component is increased to 66 kd.