title: Adrenocorticotropic hormone as a potential enhancer of T-lymphocyte function in the rat mixed lymphocyte reaction.
abstract: The effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (10(-6) to 1 U/ml) on T-lymphocyte proliferation and function were studied in the rat mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). ACTH produced a modest increase in lymphocyte proliferation on day 3 in lymph node (LN) cells and on day 5 in spleen cells. In addition, LN MLR cells, activated in the presence of ACTH, showed a higher proliferative response to restimulation on day 5 and on day 11 of the primary culture. Cytotoxic activity and the number of IL-2R- cells were increased in ACTH-treated LN MLR cultures in experiments where control MLR levels were low. ACTH also overcame the generation of low levels of suppressor activity in spleen MLR cells. These findings indicate that ACTH could play a role in increasing the priming of T-lymphocytes and enhancing, in particular, suboptimal primary responses.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gonsalkorale
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dascombe
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone