Abstract
A LARGE proportion of T lymphocytes is activated by soluble lectins, such as phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin-A (con-A) and lentil mitogen1–3, and heterologous anti-lymphocyte sera4, whereas B lymphocytes respond to insoluble lectins5,6, bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS)1,3,7–9, and (in some species, but not in mice) to anti-immunoglobulin antibodies10. Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)4,5 and probably staphylococcal enterotoxin B11, stimulate both T and B cells. Although the basis of selective T-B activation in vitro is not clearly understood, it is known that T and B cells bind PHA12, con-A3 and LPS3 equally well and that most soluble lectins induce binding site redistribution on both T and B cells12. These observations as well as extensive studies on antigens13 with different physical properties suggest that the size, multivalency and manner of presentation of the ligand determine whether T or B cells will be stimulated. Most agents which stimulate T cells directly (that is in the absence of T cells), namely polyclonal mitogens and T-independent antigens, are polymeric and direct activation of B lymphocytes may therefore require a considerable degree of receptor cross-linkage lattice formation1,13.
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JANOSSY, G., HUMPHREY, J., PEPYS, M. et al. Complement Independence of Stimulation of Mouse Splenic B Lymphocytes by Mitogens. Nature New Biology 245, 108–112 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio245108a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio245108a0
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