LYSOZYME STIMULATES LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION IN MONOCYTE-DEPLETED MIXED LYMPHOCYTE-CULTURES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 99  (3) , 370-381
Abstract
Human LZM [lysozyme] enhanced 3H-thy [thymidine] uptake and lymphoblast transformation in monocyte-depleted MLC [mixed lymphocyte culture]. The effect was maximal (up to 6-fold increase) in low level (< 10,000 cpm) MLC. Maximal MLC enhancement was obtained with 250 .mu.g/ml LZM; higher LZM concentrations appeared to be inhibitory. LZM enhancement of MLC could not be demonstrated in the presence of monocytes. LZM did not enhance lymphocyte responses to SKSD [streptokinase-streptodornase]. LZM enhancement of MLC may be due to LZM augmentation of stimulator cell antigenicity. LZM pretreatment of stimulator but not responder lymphocytes enhanced MLC. This enhancement was blocked by the LZM inhibitor tri-GlcNAc [tri-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine]. LZM enhancement of MLC was maximum when the antigenic stimulus was minimized by reducing the number of stimulator cells or utilizing HLA-DRw-matched donors in MLC. LZM may enhance lymphocyte proliferative responses to allogeneic stimuli by altering stimulator cells'' antigenicity; monocyte-macrophage enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation in MLC may be partially mediated by LZM.