title: In vitro synthesis of IgM rheumatoid factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus, by lymphocytes from healthy adults.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 20 healthy adults were tested in vitro for the production of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) or pokeweed mitogen. Fifteen of the 20 normal subjects produced greater than or equal to 4 ng/ml IgM-RF (mean +/- SD 46 +/- 55 ng/ml) in response to SAC, compared with only 2 of 20 who produced greater than or equal to 4 ng/ml IgM-RF (mean +/- SD 2 +/- 4 ng/ml) in response to pokeweed mitogen (P = 0.0001). Separation and reconstitution of autologous T and B cell-enriched fractions, with and without prior T cell irradiation, provided evidence for a radiosensitive T helper/inducer cell involved in the IgM-RF response to SAC in 70% of the normal subjects studied. SAC appears to be a potent stimulus of IgM-RF production, with a cellular mechanism distinct from that of other in vitro systems.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor