The necessity for T cell help for human tonsil B cell responses to pokeweed mitogens: induction of DNA synthesis, immunoglobulin, and specific antibody production with a T cell helper factor produced with pokeweed mitogen.
Human B lymphocytes obtained from tonsils do not proliferate when stimulated with pokeweed mitogen. A soluble factor produced from T cells cultured with pokeweed mitogen stimulates B cells to synthesize DNA and differentiate into immunoglobulin producing cells. This PWM produced supernatant induced a PFC response to SRBC. The T cell supernatant activity is produced within 12 hr of stimulation in the presence of serum and without a requirement for T cell division. Optimal stimulation of B cells occurred at 7 to 9 days of culture. This helper factor activity eluted postalbumin from a column of Sephadex G-200. Insolubilized pokeweed mitogen was not mitogenic for B cells. The continuous presence of the lectin in culture was not required for B cell proliferation or for immunoglobulin synthesis.
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D037102:Lectins; D004247:DNA