The role of insulin in the response of murine T lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation in vitro.
The ability of insulin to influence the responsiveness of murine T lymphocytes in a culture system containing a serum substitute was documented. The presence of insulin was found to enhance the concanavalin A (Con A) reactivity of the lymphocytes. Once the cells were activated by a short-term exposure to Con A, insulin was capable of replacing Con A for the continued stimulation of the cells. This was true both for lymphocyte proliferation and for the generation of nonspecific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The presence or absence of insulin was not found to influence the phytohemagglutinin responsiveness of the T lymphocytes. Possible reasons for the observed results are discussed in relation to a proposed model for lymphocyte activation.
D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006133:Growth Substances; D007328:Insulin; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D011972:Receptor, Insulin