Wheat germ agglutinin activates macrophages for collaboration with B cells.
Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), added to Mishell-Dutton-type cultures of nude spleen cells challenged with erythrocyte antigens, allows a primary specific plaque-forming cell (PFC) response. WGA, however, does not display direct mitogenicity to either T or B lymphocytes. The activity of WGA in the specific PFC response is macrophage-dependent and parallels a nonspecific PFC response in the same cultures.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006736:Horses; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012756:Sheep; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D014908:Triticum
D037102:Lectins; D008934:Mitogens; D037121:Plant Lectins