title: Cotton bract tannin: a novel human T-lymphocyte mitogen and a possible causative agent of byssinosis.
abstract: Cotton bract tannin, a major organic component of cotton dust, was tested for mitogenic activity upon human T lymphocytes. Tannin caused polyclonal activation of human T lymphocytes in vitro. The pattern of T-cell response to tannin was similar to the pattern seen in lymphocytes stimulated with the well-known plant lectin T-cell mitogens, PHA and ConA. The response to tannin was shown to be dependent upon tannin dose and presence of monocytes. The maximum response occurred after 3-4 days in culture with the magnitude comparable to the one achieved by ConA. Lipopolysaccharide from Enterobacter agglomerans, a major contaminant of cotton dust, was shown not to be a mediator of tannin mitogenicity in vitro. A role for tannin as a polyclonal cell activator and, therefore, a possible etiologic agent of byssinosis is suggested by these observations.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vuk-Pavlović
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D002095:Byssinosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004391:Dust; D003368:Gossypium / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D037102:Lectins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013634:Tannins