EFFECTS OF TUMOR PROMOTER PHORBOL-MYRISTATE ACETATE ON MOUSE LYMPHOCYTES - SELECTIVE-INHIBITION OF B-CELL ACTIVATION BY MITOGENS AND ANTIGENS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (2) , 327-332
Abstract
The effect of the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) on the responses of mouse lymphocytes to various stimuli was studied in vitro. Nanomolar concentrations of PMA inhibited B cell proliferation induced by lipopolysaccharide and by anti-Ig antibodies, and the polyclonal antibody response to lipopolysaccharide. Specific antibody responses to both T-dependent and T-independent antigens were similarly affected. T cell proliferation elicited by various mitogens was 10- to 1000-fold more resistant to inhibition. Cell fractionation experiments suggest that the effects on B cell responses are the results of a direct anti-proliferative effect of PMA on responding B lymphocytes.