Stimulation of colony formation and growth factor production of human T lymphocytes by wheat germ lectin.
Wheat germ lectin (WGL) induced proliferation of T-lymphocyte colony-forming units (TL-CFU) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a one stage agar culture needing higher cell numbers than phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). However, WGL preactivated TL-CFU in a first stage liquid culture for the growth of PHA-dependent T-lymphocyte colonies in a subsequent agar culture. These results suggested that WGL and PHA have biological activities in common. WGL and PHA both induced the expression of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors by PBMC to become responsive to IL-2, although production of IL-2 by WGL-stimulated PBMC was low compared with PHA-stimulated PBMC. This might account for the low proliferative response of PBMC to WGL.
D000362:Agar; D002455:Cell Division; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
D007376:Interleukin-2; D037102:Lectins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D000362:Agar