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Synthetic polyamines added to cultures containing bovine sera reversibly inhibit in vitro parameters of immunity

Nature volume 267, pages 621–623 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

POLYAMINES are present in high concentration in foetal1 and neoplastic tissue2 and seminal fluid3—all representing antigenic challenges which usually fail to elicit the appropriate immune response. This has prompted us to investigate the influence of polyamines on in vitro parameters of immunity. We report here that micromolar quantities of spermine and spermidine reversibly inhibit three responses of primary cultures of murine spleen cells. These are (1) DNA synthetic response stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin A (con A) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS); (2) mixed lymphocyte response (MLC) stimulated by irradiated allogeneic cells; and (3) the induction but not the expression of the cytolytic lymphocyte response. The inhibition does not seem to be due to toxicity but occurs only in the presence of calf or foetal calf sera.

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Author notes

  1. D. M. JACOBS

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Buffalo, New York, 14214

  2. M. S. AMOSS

    Present address: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A and M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, Texas, 77840

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Salk Institute for Biological Studies, P.O. Box 1809, San Diego, California, 92112

    W. J. BYRD, D. M. JACOBS & M. S. AMOSS

Authors
  1. W. J. BYRD
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  2. D. M. JACOBS
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  3. M. S. AMOSS
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BYRD, W., JACOBS, D. & AMOSS, M. Synthetic polyamines added to cultures containing bovine sera reversibly inhibit in vitro parameters of immunity. Nature 267, 621–623 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267621a0

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