Stimulation of Human Lymphocytes by Galactose-Specific Abrus and Ricinus Lectins

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 115; no. 4; pp. 1045 - 1048
• Main Authors: Closs, Otto, Saltvedt, Erling, Olsnes, Sjur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01.10.1975
• Subjects: Abrin - pharmacology; Acetylgalactosamine - pharmacology; Concanavalin A - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Galactose; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Lactose - pharmacology; Lectins - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Methylmannosides - pharmacology; Plant Proteins - pharmacology; Ricin - pharmacology; Thymidine - antagonists & inhibitors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.115.4.1045

Human lymphocyte cultures were incubated with the nontoxic abrus agglutinin and with ricin B chain, and the incorporation of 3H thymidine was measured. Abrus agglutinin stimulated strongly the thymidine incorporation whereas ricin B chain had a much lesser effect. When galactose or lactose was added to the cultures together with the lectins, the abrus agglutinin and ricin B chain induced thymidine incorporation was strongly reduced. There was a linear relationship between the concentration of lectin and the concentration of lactose required for inhibition of lymphocyte stimulation. N-acetyl-galactosamine had a much lesser inhibiting effect and alpha-methyl-mannoside did not cause any inhibition. The abrus agglutinin induced thymidine incorporation was not demonstrable before 36 to 40 hr and reached its maximum after 2 to 5 days. If lactose was added within the first 4 hr of incubation with abrus agglutinin no stimulation was observed.