Stimulation of human lymphocytes by galactose-specific abrus and ricinus lectins.
Human lymphocyte cultures were incubated with the nontoxic abrus agglutinin and with ricin B chain, and the incorporation of 3H thymidine was measured. Abrus agglutinin stimulated strongly the thymidine incorporation whereas ricin B chain had a much lesser effect. When galactose or lactose was added to the cultures together with the lectins, the abrus agglutinin and ricin B chain induced thymidine incorporation was strongly reduced. There was a linear relationship between the concentration of lectin and the concentration of lactose required for inhibition of lymphocyte stimulation. N-acetyl-galactosamine had a much lesser inhibiting effect and alpha-methyl-mannoside did not cause any inhibition. The abrus agglutinin induced thymidine incorporation was not demonstrable before 36 to 40 hr and reached its maximum after 2 to 5 days. If lactose was added within the first 4 hr of incubation with abrus agglutinin no stimulation was observed.
D000036:Abrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005690:Galactose; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007785:Lactose / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008766:Methylmannosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012276:Ricin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors
D037102:Lectins; D008766:Methylmannosides; D010940:Plant Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000036:Abrin; D012276:Ricin; D007785:Lactose; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine; D013936:Thymidine; D005690:Galactose