Abstract
MITOGENS, which stimulate cell division in immunocompetent cells, are being used in the study of control mechanisms in cellular division and differentiation. In general mitogens are specific for one major class of cells. To stimulate immunocompetent cells1,2, most soluble plant mitogens such as concanavalin A (con A) and phytohaemagglutinin require the presence of thymus-dependent lymphocytes (T cells). On the other hand, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the B (thymus independent) class of lymphocytes3. In contrast, extracts of Phytolacca americana (pokeweed) are reported to have mitogenic activities directed toward both T and B lymphoid cells4–7. A study of the pokeweed system may provide further information on the differences and similarities in the mechanisms by which these two classes of lymphoid cells are stimulated.
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WAXDAL, M., BASHAM, T. B and T-cell stimulatory activities of multiple mitogens from pokeweed. Nature 251, 163–164 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/251163a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/251163a0
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