title: Dextran-triggered T cells heighten T- and B-cell reactions to mitogens.
abstract: Dextran administered to mice of six strains has been found to cause enhanced responses of spleen cells to the mitogens Con A and LPS. When added to cultures of spleen cells in vitro in a wide range of concentrations dextran, alone, was neither mitogenic nor toxic. The enhancement is mediated through T cells since it was absent in spleen cells from dextrantreated athymic mice. Furthermore, for the enhanced response to LPS, T cells from dextran-treated mice apparently must be in close association with B cells for longer than 2 h. The enhancement is accomplished through a humoral factor(s) produced by splenic T cells. The T cell-derived enhancing factor(s) has been shown to affect allogeneic as well as isogeneic T and B cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008805:Mice, Inbred A; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D003911:Dextrans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D003208:Concanavalin A