title: Dextran-sulfate: a mitogen for human T lymphocytes.
abstract: Dextran-sulfate (DxS) induced proliferation of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes but not of adult or neonatal B lymphocytes. The mitogenic activity on T cells by DxS required the presence of accessory cells because DxS was unable to trigger T cells to DNA synthesis in the absence of accessory cells. In addition, DxS stimulated OKT4+8- T cells to produce interleukin 2, a process that also occurred only in the presence of accessory cells. Cyclosporin-A strongly suppressed T cell proliferation induced by DxS by rendering T cells unresponsive to interleukin 2 and by inhibiting the synthesis of this T cell growth factor by OKT4+ T cells. These results indicate that DxS is a mitogen for human T lymphocytes but not for adult or neonatal B lymphocytes. The mechanism by which DxS triggers T cells is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003524:Cyclosporins; D003911:Dextrans; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D016264:Dextran Sulfate