Enhancement of cell-cell contact by a nonmitogenic lectin increases blastogenic response and IL-2 release by mitogen-stimulated mouse thymocytes.
We have examined the influence of peanut agglutinin (PNA), a lectin which agglutinates but does not stimulate mouse thymocytes, on the responsiveness of these cells to concanavalin A (Con A) or galactose oxidase stimulation. Binding low amounts of PNA on unseparated mouse thymocytes pretreated with neuraminidase highly enhances the mitogenic response and the level of interleukin 2 release in the culture medium upon Con A stimulation. We have shown that PNA present on the cell surface acts as a crosslinking agent which favors intercellular binding between accessory cells (macrophages) and thymocytes, leading through this enhanced cooperation by cell-cell contact to an enhanced blastogenic response.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007376:Interleukin-2; D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; C038223:peanut agglutinin receptor; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009439:Neuraminidase