title: A galactose-inhibitable mitogen for human lymphocytes from the sponge axinella polypoides.
abstract: Of two galactose-binding hemagglutinins isolated from the sponge Axinella polypoides, axinella I was strongly mitogenic for human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and axinella II was not. Purified T cells responded strongly and B cells weakly to axinella I. Mitogenic response, as monitored by rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation on the third day of culture, was specifically inhibited by Dgalactose, Dfucose, raffinose, or 2-deoxy-D-galactose added within 5 hr of the mitogen. Mitogenic response was correlated with degree of lymphocyte agglutination. The effectiveness of a given sugar in inhibiting mitogenic response to axinella I paralleled its potency in inhibiting precipitation of lectin by blood group substances. If an inhibitory concentration of Dgalactose was add 24 to 40 hr after mitogenic activation, rate of 3H-thymadine uptake at 72 hr was two to twenty times above the rate induced in cultures to which no galactose was added. Dgalactose at a subinhibitory concentration (10mug/ml) enhanced 3H-thymidine incorportion incorporation induced by phytohemagglutinin or Con A, an effect reversible by Dgalactose. These findings suggest that axinella I has tow antagonistic effects on human lymphocytes: a) mitogenic activation and b) depressive activity resulting from depletion of essential galactose moieties.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008934:Mitogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011161:Porifera / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D005690:Galactose