title: Chorionic gonadotropin-induced cell proliferation and polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis in human mononuclear cells.
abstract: Some fetal and placental proteins may play a role in stimulating normal and malignant cell proliferation. We studied the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the proliferative response of mitogen or alloantigen-activated, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). The effect of hCG on polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis was determined in pokeweed mitogen-activated cultures of PBM. hCG had a statistically discernible, augmenting effect on thymidine uptake in lectin-stimulated mononuclear cell cultures. This effect appeared to be dose-dependent, with an optimal range at 50-150 ng/hCG/ml. Polyclonal IgG and IgM synthesis was also significantly increased, both in PWM-stimulated and PWM-free cultures of PBM. Parallel studies with a rapidly growing EB-virus transformed lymphoblastoid line showed no hCG effect. In contrast to previous reports on the immunosuppressive action of hCG, we conclude that hCG functions, in our experimental conditions, as a mitogen and a stimulator of polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Teodorczyk-Injeyan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kellen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013936:Thymidine