Suggestive Evidence for Both Stimulatory and Inhibitory Domains on Human Lymphocytes, as Indicated by Phospholipid Turnover Studies with Wheat Germ Agglutinin and Other Lectins

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Abstract
Short term effects (1 h or less) of various lectins on phospholipid turnover in human lymphocytes were studied. Concanavalin A (con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) produced 1.5-4.0 fold increases in incorporation of .**GRAPHIC**. radioactivity into phospholipids (primarily phosphatidylinositol). Wheat germ agglutinin, a nonmitogenic lectin, failed to produce a response and inhibited phospholipid turnover, in the presence and absence of PHA or con A. Since wheat germ agglutinin did not appear to be cytotoxic, as defined by a failure to see changes in vital dye uptake, and since other evidence indicates that this lectin also inhibits aminoisobutyric acid transport and DNA synthesis in human lymphocytes, specific inhibitory domains on the cell surface probably exist. The importance of these results to the lymphocyte in the immune response is discussed.