Protein A-positive staphylococci serve as a selective B cell mitogen for lymphocytes from primary immunodeficiency patients.
Staphylococcus aureus protein A-positive bacteria have recently been proposed as selective B lymphocyte mitogens. We have studied the lymphocyte response to such mitogens in bacteria in normal subjects and in patients with primary immunodeficiencies. Patients with primary T cell defects show a normal response to protein A-positive bacteria and impaired responses to PHA and Con A. In contrast, patients with Bruton agammaglobulinaemia respond normally to these T cell mitogens but not to the bacteria. Thus, protein A-positive bacteria fulfil the criteria for being a T cell-independent B cell mitogen for human peripheral blood cells.
D000328:Adult; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013936:Thymidine